Volume II, Treatise IV, Chapter XIII

Of Two Reasons Which May Excite Us, to Fight with Confidence and Courage in Temptation

St. Basi says, that the reason why the devil is so enraged against us, comes not only from the envy he has to men, but from the hatred he bears to God; and since he is able to do nothing against God, he turns all his fury against man his image; and thus, in some measure, endeavours to revenge himself upon God. He does, says St. Basil, as a man, who, being not able to revenge himself upon his prince, tears his picture in pieces; or like a mad bull, who finding itself pricked on all sides, and not being able to catch those - that prick him, discharges his rage upon a man made of pasteboard, which is on purpose placed before him, and tears the image in pieces. From this truth, the saint deduces two reasons, very proper to excite us to fight courageously in temptations. First, because our glory is not only concerned in it, but also the glory of God, whom the devil endeavours to offend in our person; and this consideration ought to move us rather a thousand times to lose our lives, than to give the devil an occasion to revenge himself of God upon us. For then it is that we fight not only for ourselves, but for God also; it is God’s interest and cause we defend, and therefore we ought to die in the combat rather than suffer his glory to be diminished.

The second reason is, that since it is out of hatred to God, that the devil makes war against us; we may assure ourselves, that God will take our part against him, and help us to overcome him. Because as in the world, when a prince or great man, sees another engaged in a quarrel upon his account, he fails not ordinarily to take his part, and to make his quarrel his own. It was out of hatred to Mardochai, that Aman would have destroyed the Jews; and Mardochai, took upon him so well their defence, that he destroyed Aman himself. With how far greater reason ought we to expect the same thing from God? Wherefore we may with David thus address ourselves to him with confidence, saying— “Arise, O Lord, judge thy own cause.” (Psalms 73:22) “Take up thy arms and buckler to defend me.” (Psalms 34:2)

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