and, on the contrary, those who in temptation (especially of impurity) neglect to recommend themselves to God, fall miserably and perish. And then they excuse themselves by saying they are but of flesh, and are very weak. But how can they reasonably allege their weakness as an excuse, when they are able to acquire strength by having recourse to Jesus Christ (for it is enough to call with confidence on His Most Holy Name), and they will not do so? What excuse, I say, would that man have for having been vanquished by his enemy, who, when the requisite arms for his defence were presented him, had despised and refused them? Were such a man to allege his weakness, who would not instantly condemn him with these words,---And you, knowing as you did your own weakness, why did you not avail yourself of the arms that were offered you? St. Augustine says that the devil was put in chains by Jesus Christ; he can bark, but he cannot bite anyone, except those who wish to be bitten. That man is really a fool (continues the Saint) who allows himself to be bitten by a dog chained up: "Christ came and, chained the devil. He is bound in chains like a dog. Foolish is the man whom a dog in chains bites. He can bark, he can make attempts; he can only bite him who wills so; for he does not extort our consent from us, but seeks it." And in another passage he says that the Redeemer has given us every remedy to effect our cure; he that will not observe the laws and is put to death, dies because he wishes his own death. "As far as the physician is concerned, he came to heal; he destroys himself who will not observe the laws." He that takes
