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Show ((CI O0O 0Q90oeo-O9O0O9 oou i : 1 : if v JflK k 1 . I CHAPTER XII. Of the advantage of adversity. It is good for now and then to have some troubles and adversitis, for oftentimes of-tentimes they make a man enter into himself, that he may know that he is an exile, and place not his hopes in anything any-thing of the woild. It is good for us sometimes to suffer contradictions, and to allow people to think ill and slightingly of us, even when we do and mean well. These are often helps to humility, and rid us of vain glory. For then wc more earnestly seek God to be witness of what passes within us, when outwardly we are slighted by men, and incur their discredit. Therefore There-fore ought a man so firmly to establish himself in God as to hava no need of seeking many human consolations. When a man of good wilk is troubled, tempted, or afflicted with evil thoughts, then he best understandeth what need he had of God, and that without Him he is incapable of any good. Then, also, he is sorrowful ; he sigh-eth sigh-eth and prayeth. by reason of the miseries mis-eries he suifereth. Then is he weary of longer life, and wisheth death would come, that he may be dissolved, and be with Christ. Then, also, he perceiveth that perfect per-fect security and full peace cannot be realized in this world. CHAPTER XIII. Of resisting temptations. As long as we live in this world, we cannot be without tribulation and temptation. Hence it is written in Job: "Man's life on, earth is a temptation." v Every one, therefore, should "be solicitous so-licitous about his temptations, and watch in prayer, lest the devil find opportunity op-portunity to catch him; who never sleepeth, but goeth about, seeking whom he may devour. No one is perfect and holy as not sometimes to have temptation; and we can be wholly free from them. Nevertheless, temptations are often very profitable to a man, troublesome and grevious though they be. for in them a man. is purified, humbled and instructed. All the Saints passsd through many tribulations and temptations and profited profit-ed by them. And they that could not support temptations became reprobate and fell awav. There is no order so holy, nor place so retired, whre there are not temptations tempta-tions and adversities. A man is never wholly secure from temptation as long as he liveth; for there is within us the source of temptation; since we are born in concupiscence. When one temptation or tribulation, is over, another cometh on; and we shall always have something to suffer; for we have lost the advantage of our original happiness. Many seek to fly temptations, and fall the more grieviously into them. We cannot conquer by flight alone; but by patience and true humility we become stronger than, all our enemies. He who only declineth them outward- 1 ly, and doth not pluck out their root, will profit little; nay, temptation will the sooner return, and he will find himself him-self in. a worse condition. By degrees and by patience, with magnanimity, thou wilt by God's grace better overcome them by harshness and thine own. opportunity. Take counsel the oftener in temptation, tempta-tion, and do not deal harshly with any one who is tempted; but pour out con-sclation. con-sclation. as thou wouldst wish it done to yourself. . Inconstancy of mind and little confidence con-fidence in God is the beginning of all evil inclinations. For as a ship without a helm is driven to and fro by the waves, so the man who is negligent, and giveth up his resolution, is tempted tempt-ed in various ways. Fire trieth iron, and temptation a just man. We often know not what we are able to do, but temptation discovereth what we are. Still we must watch, especially in the beginning of temptation; for then the enemy is more easily overcome, if he be not suffered to enter the door o the mind, but is withstood upon the threshold the very moment that lie knocketh. Whence a certain man hath said: "Resist beginnings; all too late the cure, When ills have gathered strength by long delay." For first there cometh into the mind a simple thought; then a strong imagination; imagin-ation; afterwards delight, and the evil motion and consent. And so. by little and little, the malignant ma-lignant foe doth gain full entrance, when he is not resisted in the beginning. begin-ning. And the longer any one hath been slothful in: resisting, so much the weaker weak-er he daily becometh in himself, and the enemy so much stronger against him. Some suffer grievous temptation in the beginning of their conversion, others oth-ers in the end, and some are much troubled nearly their whole life. Some are very lightly tempted, according to the wisdom and equity of the ordinance of God, who weigheth man's condition and merits, and pre-ordaineth all things for the salvation of His- elect. We must not, therefore, despair when we are tempted, but the more frequently frequent-ly pray God to vouchsafe to help us in every . tribulation; who, of a truth, according to the saying of St. Paul, will make such issue with the tempta- , tion, that we may be able to sustain Let us, theni humble ou-r souls under the hand of God in every temptation and tribulation, for the humble in spirit he will save and exalt. In. temptations and tribulations is it proved what progress a man hath, had made; and there, also, is there greater merit, and virtue is made more manifest. Neither is it a great thing' for a man to be devout and fervent while he feel- I eth no- weight of adversity in time of j , trouble; but if he suffereth patiently, , there wiH hope of great profit. Some are preserved from great temptations, and are often overcome in daily little ones; that, humbled, they 'may never presume upon themselves in great trials, tri-als, when they are so weak in such trifling' occurrences. |