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206
OF THE ASSAULT UPON FAITH

CHAPTER LXIII.

Of Four Assaults of our Enemies at the time of Dying; and first of the Assault upon Faith, and of the Manner of defending ourselves.

THERE are four principal and most dangerous assaults, which our enemies are wont to make against us at the time of death.

They are; temptation of faith, despair, vainglory, and various illusions and transformations of devils into angels of light.

As to the first assault; if the enemy begin to tempt you with his false arguments, retire at once from the understanding to the will, saying: "Get thee behind me, Satan, father of lies, for I will not even hear thee; enough for me to believe what the Holy Catholic Church believes."

And do not, as far as possible, give place to questions about the faith, however plausible they may seem, but regard them as prompted by the devil in order to stir up anxiety.

But if, however, you are not in time to turn your thoughts quite away, stand firm and unmoved, so as not to yield to any reason or authority of Scripture, which the adversary may allege; for all will be garbled, or wrongly quoted or misinterpreted, although it may appear to you to be good, clear, and conclusive.