Volume II, Treatise IV, Chapter VIII

That the Saints and Servants of God, not Only Did not Afflict Themselves at Temptations, but on the Contrary Rejoiced; Because of the Profit They Derived from Them

THE prospect of the great advantages annexed to temptations, was the reason why the saints, instead of afflicting themselves for having them, rejoiced thereat. And it is to this purpose that the apostle St. James exhorts in these words: ‘ my dear brethren, count it all joy, when ye fall into divers temptations.”—(Jam. i. 2.) In the same spirit, St. Paul speaks thereof; “it is not only,” says he, “in the hope of the children of God, that we glory also in tribulations; ‘knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experieice; and experience, hope.” (Romans 5:3) St. Gregory, explaining this passage of Job, “if I lie down, I say when shall I arise; and when I arise, I will be still in expectation of the evening:” (Job 7:43) says, that the expectation of the evening, in this place, is the expectation of being tempted, as a good and advantageous thing. For we are in expectation of good things, as the same father adds, and in apprehension of bad ones; and Job, by saying that he is in expectation of temptation, shews. sufficiently the esteem he has thereof.

~ St. Dorotheus upon this occasion gives us an example of a disciple of the ancient fathers of the desert, who being continually attacked by the spirit of impurity, did, through the mercy of God, by means of prayer, fasting, labour, and several other austerities, courageously resist. His director, seeing him in that condition, told him one day, that if he pleased, he would pray to God to deliver him from that temptation. I see very well, father, said he, that the state I am in is very painful; but I find also that it furthers my progress in virtue; for it makes me give myself the more ‘to prayer, mortification, and penance; so that all I desire you to beg of God for me, is, that he would give me patience and strength, that I may become victorious in the conflict. The good old man, overjoyed at the answer of his disciple, said to him; now, my child, I see very well, that thou dost truly advance in the path of virtue; forwhen a man is smartly attacked by temptation, which he strives to resist, he becomes more humble, more careful, and more mortified; and so the soul coming to rid itself of whatever is impure in it, ascends indeed to a high degree of purity and perfection. The same St. Dorotheus tells us of another hermit, who finding himself delivered from a temptation he was subject to, was very much afflicted thereat, and complained earnestly thereof to Almighty God; saying, does this happen, O Lord, because thou hast not thought me worthy to suffer something for the love of thee?

St. John Climachus says, that St. Ephrem finding himself in that perfect state of tranquillity and peace; which he calls impassibility, begged earnestly of God to re-engage him in the combat, that he might have more matter of merit, and wherewith to make up his crown. Palladius also tells us, that another hermit going to visit the Abbot Pastor, and telling him that he was at last delivered from all the temptations which had tormented him, and that now by the divine mercy, he enjoyed a profound peace; go, said the holy man to him, throw yourself at the feet of God, and beg of him to send you your temptations again, lest the state you are in, should make you more lukewarm and negligent in his service. The hermit made his address anew to God, laid open his heart and soul before him, to know what was most convenient for him; and so God sent him back again his former temptations. In confirmation of all this, we see, that when the apostle prayed to be delivered from the temptations which troubled him, he was not heard, but God told him, “my grace is sufficient for thee; for virtue is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

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