Volume II, Treatise IV, Chapter XXI

That According to the Difference of Temptations, We Must Help Ourselves with Different Means to Resist Them

St. JOHN Cirmacuvs tells us, that we ought to use different means for the resisting different temptations. Because as there are some vices that are bad and disagreeable in themselves, as choler, envy, hatred, desire of revenge, impatience, indignation, peevishness, bitterness of heart, obstinacy, the spirit of contradiction, and such like: there are others also, which are naturally accompanied with pleasure; such as all those that regard impurity, or the gratification of our senses; and the more satisfaction we take in these, the more they draw us to themselves; therefore we ought for this reason, says he, fight by flying them, that is to say, not only avoid the occasions that entice us to them, but even turn our minds and eyes, from all things that may make us think of them. But as to those of the first sort, we must struggle with them, in order to overcome them; which can be safely done, as there is nothing of contagion in them; though in regard of choler and revenge, it will also be very good, adds he, to avoid them, by hindering ourselves from thinking of any thing that may excite us to them.

St. Bonaventure and Cassian teach the same doctrine, and say, that as to the first, we may desire to exercise ourselves in fighting against them, and in seeking occasion to do so; by applying ourselves, for example, to frequent the company of peevish, and untractable persons, to exercise ourselves in the virtue of patience; and by submitting our wills to the will of another, to learn to become humble and obedient. But in regard to the vice of impurity, it would be a great indiscretion and very dangerous, to put ourselves upon trial, and expose ourselves to occasions thereof. Our Saviour himself, would never permit the devil to tempt him thereins to teach us, say they, that we ought not expose ourselves to temptations of this kind, what hopes soever we may have, of triumphing over them; because our propensity to impurity is so great and so very natural to us, and because-it is a vice which extremely flatters the senses, we ought always fear very much lest they should give it entrance into our heart. St. Bonaventure says very well, that as when there is any intelligence with the enemy, in a place that is attacked, it is easier to take it; so after the same manner, it is easier for the devil, who keeps a strict intelligence with our flesh, to reduce us thereby to his subjection. Therefore we ought stand herein, extremely on our guard, by carefully avoiding all occasions, that may carry us to what is bad, and rejecting all thoughts that proceed from thence. Cassian and St. Thomas say, that it is in this sense we ought to understand the precept of the apostle—“fly

fornication;” (1 Corinthians 6:18), and that St. Paul would teach us by.

these words, that impurity is not resisted, but by flying from it.

It is related in the Chronicles of the Order of St. Francis, that brother Giles, brother Rufinus, brother Simon of Assisium, and brother Juniper, being engaged in a spiritual conference, brother Giles asked the rest what they did to resist temptations of impurity? I consider, says brother Simon, how great the infamy of this sin is, and how shameful before God and man; because how imprudent soever those are, who abandon themselves to this vice, they yet hide themselves when committing it; and this consideration gives me so lively a horror of it, that I find myself presently freed from the temptation. I, for my part, says brother Rufinus, cast myself upon the ground, and with tears implore the help of God and the blessed Virgin, till I find it quite gone. And J, says brother Juniper, when I find it coming, and that it begins to take possession of my senses, I presently shut all the avenues or outworks of my heart, and set a guard of many holy thoughts upon it; and then when those that the devil sends, would enter into my heart, I cry out, that the place is already taken, and that there is no room left for them; and thus I hinder them from entering, and chase them away with shame. Then brother Giles having well considered what the three had said, cried out, I am for the practice of brother Juniper, which certainly is the best of all—for the best way to fight against impurity is to fly from it. The best and surest means, therefore, and also the most easy to resist temptations of this nature, is to cast from us all bad thoughts, and to stop all the avenues of our heart; because if once we let them enter, it will be difficult afterwards to cast them out. We must keep enemies at a distance from the place, we desire to hinder them from taking, or becoming masters of. For when they shall have gained the gates, it is a miracle if the place be not lost. In the third part, I shall speak more at large of this temptation, and of the remedies we must _ use to overcome it; and these remedies may be of great help to us against all other temptations.

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