ainst the vice of the
flesh, the victory standeth not all in the fight, but sometimes
also in the flight (saving that it is indeed a part of a wise
warrior's fight to flee from his enemies' traps), so must a man in
this temptation too, not only resist it always with reasoning
against it, but sometimes set it clear at right naught and cast it
off when it cometh and not once regard it so much as to vouchsafe
to think thereon.

Some folk have been clearly rid of such pestilent fancies with
very full contempt of them, making a cross upon their hearts and
bidding the devil avaunt. And sometimes they laugh him to scorn
too, and then turn their mind unto some other matter. And when the
devil hath seen that they have set so little by him, after certain
essays, made in such times as he thought most fitting, he hath
given that temptation quite over. And this he doth not only
because the proud spirit cannot endure to be mocked, but also
lest, with much tempting the man to the sin to which he could not
in conclusion bring him, he should much increase his merit.

The final fight is by invocation of help unto God, both praying
for himself and desiring others also to pray for him--both poor
folk for his alms and other good folk of their charity, especially
good priests in that holy sacred service of the Mass. And not only
them but also his own good angel and other holy saints such as his
devotion specially doth stand unto. Or, if he be learned, let him
use then the litany, with the holy suffrages that follow, which is
a prayer in the church of marvellous old antiquity. For it was not
made first, as some believe, by that holy man St. Gregory (which
opinion arose from the fact that, in the time of a great
pestilence in Rome, he caused the whole city to go in solemn
procession with it), but it was in use in the church many years
before St. Gregory's days, as well appeareth by the books of other
holy doctors and saints, who were dead hundreds of years before
St. Gregory was born.

And holy St. Bernard giveth counsel that every man should make
suit unto angels and saints to pray for him to God in the things
that he would have furthered by his holy hand. If any man will
stick at that, and say it needs not, because God can hear us
himself; and will also say that it is perilous to do so because
(they say) we are not so counseled by scripture, I will not
dispute the matter here. He who will not do it, I hinder him not
to leave it undone.