Guard against them; examine yourself; discover your weakest points, for against these the Devil will direct his most severe assaults.
II. Man may be guilty of gluttony in five several ways: (i) By eating before the proper time; (2) By studiously seeking the most costly and exquisite fare; (3} By too much curiosity and anxiety in dressing even ordinary food; (4) By exceeding the just measure; (5) By too much greediness in eating and drinking. Examine yourself on these points, and remember what St. Isidore remarks: "No man can attain the perfection of virtue who has not first learned to master his appetite."
III. Christ made answer to the tempter: " Man liveth not by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." By this He teaches us that we ought not to be too solicitous in regard to corporal food; "for the kingdom of God," says St. Paul, " is not meat and drink." (Rom. xiv. 17.) We ought to be much more anxious for spiritual things, for these secure our eternal life. We are not, therefore, to expect to be supplied with food by a miracle, but we must commit these cares to God's ordinary providence, "who giveth to beasts their food, and to the young ravens that call upon Him." (Ps. cxlvi. 9.) Learn, hence, to cut off all superfluous thoughts and conversations on these subjects, and throw yourself entirely on the kind providence of your good and merciful Father.
FRIDAY.
Christ's Second Temptation.
"Then the devil took Him up into the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple." (Matt. iv. 5.)
