These observations premised, it will not be difficult to comprehend the object for which we pray in this petition. We do not ask to be totally exempt from temptation: human life is one continued temptation; and this state of probation is useful and advantageous to man. Temptation teaches us to know ourselves, that is, our own weakness, and to humble ourselves under the powerful hand of God; and by fighting manfully, we expect to receive a never-fading crown of glory; " for he that striveth for the mastery is not crowned, except he strive lawfully." [1] " Blessed is the man," says St. James, " that endureth temptation; for when he hath been proved, he shall receive the crown of life, which God hath promised to them that love him." [2] If we are sometimes hard pressed by the temptation of the enemy, it will also cheer us to reflect, " that we have a High-priest to help us, who can have compassion on our infirmities, tempted himself in all things." [3]
What, then, do we pray for in this petition? We pray that the divine assistance may not forsake us; that we yield not to temptation, deceived by the artifice of the wicked one; that we give not up the victory, worsted in the contest; and that the grace of God may be at hand to succour us when our strength fails, to refresh and invigorate us on the evil day. We should, therefore, implore the divine assistance, in general, under all temptations, and, in particular, when assailed by any particular temptation. This we find to have been the conduct of David, under almost every species of temptation: against lying, he prays in these words: " Take not thou the word of truth utterly out of my mouth:" [4] against covetousness, "Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness:" [5] and against the vanities of this life, and the allurements of concupiscence, he prays thus; " Turn away my eyes, that they may not behold vanity." [6] We pray, therefore, that we yield not to evil desires, and be not wearied in enduring temptation; that we deviate not from the way of the Lord; that in adversity, as in prosperity, we preserve equanimity and fortitude; and that God may never deprive us of his protection. Finally, we pray that God may crush beneath our feet the head of the serpent.
The pastor will next exhort the faithful to those things which, in offering this petition, should constitute the chief objects of their thoughts and reflections. It will, then, be found most efficacious, when offering this prayer, to distrust our own strength, aware of our extreme infirmity; and, placing all our hopes of safety in the divine goodness, and relying on the divine protection, to encounter the greatest dangers with great ness of soul; calling to mind particularly the many instances on record of persons animated with this hope, and thus arming themselves with resolution, who were delivered by Almighty God from the fangs of Satan. When Joseph was assailed
