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Now as to all these trifling temptations of vanity, suspicion,
vexation, jealousy, envy, and the like, which flit around one like
flies or gnats, now settling on one's nose,--anon stinging one's
cheek,--as it is wholly impossible altogether to free one's-self
from their importunity; the best resistance one can make is not to
be fretted by them. All these things may worry one, but they
cannot really harm us, so long as our wills are firmly resolved to
serve God.
Therefore despise all these trivial onslaughts, and do not even
deign to think about them; but let them buzz about your ears as
much as they please, and flit hither and thither just as you
tolerate flies;--even if they sting you, and strive to light
within your heart, do no more than simply remove them, not
fighting with them, or arguing, but simply doing that which is
precisely contrary to their suggestions, and specially making acts
of the Love of God.
If you will take my advice, you will not toil on obstinately in
resisting them by exercising the contrary virtue, for that would
become a sort of struggle with the foe;--but, after making an act
of this directly contrary virtue (always supposing you have time
to recognise what the definite temptation is), simply turn with
your whole heart towards Jesus Christ Crucified, and lovingly kiss
His Sacred Feet.
This is the best way to conquer the Enemy, whether in small or
great temptations; for inasmuch as the Love of God contains the
perfection of every virtue, and that more excellently than the
very virtues themselves; it is also the most sovereign remedy
against all vice, and if you accustom your mind under all manner
of temptation to have recourse to this safety-place, you will not
be constrained to enter upon a worryingly minute investigation of
your temptations, but, so soon as you are anywise troubled, your
mind will turn naturally to its one sovereign remedy. Moreover,
this way of dealing with temptation is so offensive to the Evil
One, that, finding he does but provoke souls to an increased love
of God by his assaults, he discontinues them.
In short, you may be sure that if you dally with your minor,
oft-recurring temptations, and examine too closely into them in
detail, you will simply stupefy yourself to no purpose.
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