thing of the Lord's love, they must be softened; which softening is effected by no other means than by temptations: for temptations remove the things pertaining to self-love and to contempt of others in comparison with self, consequently things which are connected with self-glorying, and also with hatred and revenge thence derived. When thus the vessels are somewhat tempered and subdued by temptations, then they begin to become yielding to, and compliant with, the life of the Lord's love, which continually flows in. Thus it is, that man is regenerated, that is, made new, by temptations, or, what is the same, by spiritual combats; and that he is afterwards gifted with another disposition, being made mild, humble, simple, and contrite in heart."[1]
Here, then, we see the grand use of spiritual temptations, namely, to soften the heart to receive the influx of the Lord's love and life. And we thus see clearly why all who reach the kingdom of heaven must pass through tribulation and trial: no otherwise can man's proud and stubborn will be broken, and self-love be changed into that love of others which is the essence of the heavenly state. We must thus expect and be prepared to endure temptations. When, then, we utter the petition, "Bring us not into temptation," we do not mean to pray that we may undergo no temptations at all—for, as just shown, these are necessary,—but we pray not to be brought or let into temptations beyond our strength to bear, and we pray, also, to be sustained in such temptations as it is neces-
- ↑ A.C., 3318.
