§ 4. The Assaults of Temptations.

Again, it is one thing to be attacked by evil passions, and another to be overcome by them. So long as thou consentest not, so long as the vices displease thee, and thou resistest them with thy reason and thy will, thou withdrawest not from God, however they may attack and molest thee. Some servants of God are, by nature, placid both within and without, and are but slightly molested by vices. Others are more severely tempted when occasions offer, being by their very nature prone to pride, or vain-glory, anger or greediness, luxury or other faults; but they will not in any way yield their consent to these vices. For when they feel any inclination towards them, they instantly abandon and contemn whatever is adverse to God and to their spiritual good, and, repudiating all sensuality, they flee interiorly to God by faith and humble prayer. These are often more acceptable to God than the others, and excel them in virtue; for the perfection of virtue is attained by efforts. It is possible, however, that some one of those who strive earnestly against sin, may be detained some what long in Purgatory after his death; but when he .shall be fully cleansed, he will obtain a much higher 143place in heaven than he who did not make such strenuous efforts, though he may have reached heaven without passing through the pains of purgatory. Let not, therefore, the violence of temptation discourage thee.

Even if thou shouldst feel very urgent evil impulses in those inferior and sensitive parts of the mind which we have in common with the brute creation, but with out consenting to them, even if unclean images and unheard-of blasphemies against God and the Saints repeatedly enter into thy mind against thy will, they would not contaminate thy soul, but would cleanse it, and prepare for it wonderful crowns in heaven. Many very pious men are so tormented by temptations of this sort, that they cannot say a single “Our Father,” or “Hail, Mary,” without diabolical suggestions. They are oppressed by intolerable difficulties, and think themselves guilty of many crimes; but in the eyes of God they are glorious martyrs. On account of these suggestions, anxieties, and afflictions, we must never omit our prayers, even though they may be disturbed by innumerable distractions, nor must we neglect any good work. He who once consents to vain-glory is more displeasing in the sight of God than if he had for many years felt the worst suggestions enter into his mind without consenting to them. Let the malignant spirits rage as they may, let the flesh entice and excite to evil, the soul, which by deliberate will refuses to turn to evil, loses not the grace of God. The intellect is often so occupied by importunate suggestions, and by evil thoughts and 144temptations, that a pious man may for a time dwell upon them without deliberation or intention: but he turns away as soon as he is clearly aware of his thoughts, and consents not to the temptation which had taken hold of him.

If in thy sleep (when the reason is not free) thou shouldst have some unclean dream, thou must not be too much afflicted and fearful because of it, provided that on awaking, and being fully master of thy reason, thou rejectest what is sinful. Sin depends entirely on the will,—so that if it be not voluntary, it is not sin.

Therefore, I repeat again for thy consolation, if on account of an injury done to thee, or of evil speaking against thee and thine, or for any other cause, thou shouldst feel thyself violently moved to anger, or to feel ill-will or envy towards any one, and meanwhile thou art displeased with thyself, and dost repress to the utmost of thy power the vice which is active within thee, and strivest to expel and mortify it by humble confession and prayer, thy salvation will suffer no detriment. There may, indeed, be a tempest in the lowest regions of thy soul; but in the upper regions, thy reason will remain tranquil and thy will incorrupt and unconquered.

Nothing will altogether separate thee from the friendship of God, if thou consentest not to sin. But neither the devil nor any other creature can force thee to consent, since thou hast free will, which God is ever ready to strengthen by His grace, lest thou shouldst fall by consenting. If, however, thou hast 145consented to sin, thou mayest (with the help of God) be quickly re-instated in grace before the Lord, by true contrition and penance.