Of Two Other Remedies against Temptations

ST. BERNARD says that, when the devil wishes to capture a man, he first carefully studies his character, temperament, and inclination, and assails him by that to which he sees him most inclined. Those who are of a soft and sweet temperament he assails with temptations to impurity and vainglory; those of a rougher blend, with temptations of anger, pride, indignation, and impatience. St. Gregory says the same, and applies a good comparison. He says that, as one of the chief concerns of a bird-catcher is to know what sort of food the birds are fondest of whom he wishes to catch, to provide them with that; so the chief care of our adversaries the devils is to know what sort of things we best like, to provide us therewith and gain a hold on us thereby. Thus we see that the devil assailed and tempted Adam through his wife, because he knew the great affection that he bore her; and Samson also he assailed and overcame by the same, so that he came to discover the riddle and say wherein his strength lay. Thus the devil, like a skillful warrior, goes round and searches out with much diligence the weakest part of our soul, and the passion that has the greatest sway in each individual and to which he is most inclined, to attack him by that. And this should be the precaution and remedy which we should take on our side against these tactics of the devil—to recognize the weakest side of our soul, the side most destitute of virtue, the side where natural inclination or passion or evil habit is most apt to carry us away, and put there greater care and defenses.

Another remedy, much in conformity with the above, is given us by the saints and masters of spiritual life. They say that we should make it a general rule, when we are assailed by any temptation, immediately to take to the contrary thereof, and defend ourselves by that. In this manner physicians cure the sickness of the body, contraries by contraries. When the sickness comes of cold, they apply hot applications; when of dryness, wet applications; and in this way the humors are reduced to a just mean and put in due proportion. In the same way we should cure and remedy the sicknesses and temptations of the soul. And this is what our Father says: “We should forestall temptations by their contraries; thus, when one is found to be prone to pride, he must be exercised in lowly duties which seem likely to help to humble him; and so of other evil propensities.”