Volume II, Treatise IV, Chapter XII

That # Ts a Great Help in Temptations to Think that We Fight in God’s Presence

THE consideration that God beholds us fighting, is a farther help to encourage us, and to give us new strength in temptations. A soldier that fights under his general’s or prince’s eye, thereby becomes more courageous. We truly fight in the presence of God, in all our temptations; wherefore in all those attacks we have to sustain, we must make account that we are entered into the lists, and that all ‘the saints and angels are spectators of the combat, and expect with impatience the success thereof; and that God is the judge and rewarder of our victory. This thought the holy fathers had, which is founded upon the words of the gospel, where it takes notice, that after the devil had tempted our Saviour to no purpose, and had quitted him, “the angels came and served him.”—(Mat. iv. 11.) We read in the life of St. Anthony that one night, when the devils had beaten and bruised him with many blows, he lifted up his eyes and saw a bright light, which piercing the top of his cell, dispersed the darkness thereof, and drove away all the devils; and in a moment freed him from all the pain of those strokes he had received. Then presently addressing himself to our Saviour, he said: O Lord, where were you whilst your enemies so cruelly treated me? Why came you not in the beginning of the combat to hinder them, and deliver me out of their hands? To whom a voice answered, ‘ Anthony, I was present in the beginning of the combat, and all along have been a spectator of it; and because thou hast fought with such courage, I will always continue to assist thee, and render thy name famous all over the world. Wherefore in all our temptations we may assure ourselves, that we have God and the angels witnesses of our resistance, and who is there that would not encourage himself to fight well before such spectators as these? Moreover, since with God it is the same thing to look upon us, and to help us; we ought to consider that he regards us, not only as our master and judge to crown us, if we become victorious; but as our father and protector, to help us, if we stand in need of his assistance; according to these words of the scripture; “the eyes of the Lord contemplate the whole heart, and give strength and

a fortitude.” (2 Paralipomenon 16:9) ‘The Lord is upon my right hand, lest I should be moved.” (Psalms 15:8) It is related in the fourth book of Kings, that the prophet Eliseus being in the city of Dothan, the king of Syria sent in the night part of his army to take him. Giezi, the prophet’s servant, going out early in the morning sees the city quite surrounded with troops, runs presently to give notice to his master, believing himself lost, and cries out:—‘ Alas, alas, alas my lord, what shall we do? Fear nothing,’’ says the prophet, “for we have more for us, than they have on their side.” (4 Kings vi. 14.) Whereupon he betook himself to prayer, to beg of God that he would please to open the eyes of Giezi, and presently he saw a mountain covered with horsemen and fiery chariots, whereby he was freed from his fear. We have no less subject of confidence; because we know God is always ready to succour us. ‘ Set me by thee,” says Job, “and let who will attack me.” (Job 17:5) “The Lord is with me,” says Jeremias, “as a powerful warrior that protects me. Wherefore they who persecute me, shall fall; they shall become weak against me, and remain covered with confusion.” (Jeremias 20:11)

St. Jerom, writing upon these words of the psalmist, ‘thou, 0 Lord, hast crowned us with the buckler of thy good will,” (Psalms 5:13) says, that in the language of men, there is a great difference, between a buckler and a crown; but in the language of God, they are one and the same thing; because when he covers us with the buckler of his love, the buckler which is our protection and defence, is also our crown and victory. To conclude with the apostle, “if God be for us, who shall be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

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