Chapter IX. Of the Second Aid to the Will

THE second aid to the human will consists in putting to flight the Prince of darkness, as the author of every inordinate kindling of the passions. We drive away and conquer this enemy every time we subdue and conquer our own lusts and inordinate desires. If then you wish to make the devil flee from you, resist your passions, for this is the resistance St. James would have us make to him.

And here I would remind you, that the devil sometimes so assaults us by inflaming the lusts of the flesh and the passions, that man seems constrained to yield. But you need not be dismayed; only resist, and be convinced that God is with you, and will not suffer you to be oppressed. Resist, I say, and for certain, if you persevere, you shall conquer.

This I said, "if you persevere," for it is not enough to resist once, or twice, or thrice, but every time that you are tempted. For it is the custom of the devil to try to-morrow what he could not do to-day, and next week what he could not accomplish in this; and thus he goes on, continuously from time to time, with much patience, now with fury and then with craftiness, till he gains his point.

Therefore you have need to be constant, ever on your.guard; do not trust to the victories you have already gained, however many they may be; seeing that man's life is a continual warfare, the victory in it depends on the end, and not on to-day or to-morrow.

And know that, if this resistance is painful to you, it is far more painful to the devil to be resisted.

Hence for your consolation you may say to him, "Go, infernal demon, and endure torment; but since you suffer through your wickedness, and I, lest I offend my Lord, your pain shall be eternal, and mine, by the grace of God, shall be changed into eternal peace."