er He were indeed the Son of
God. So each child in baptism is made by the operation of the Holy
Ghost the child of God, and _then_ his whole life is a being led by one
of two spirits--the Spirit of God, leading him through temptation to
sanctity, or the spirit of evil leading him by temptation into sin.
For St. Paul tells us, doubtless referring to this, that, "As many as
are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God." This however
must be proved by temptation.

Sanctity is the positive virtue of the soul which has been tempted and
has stood the test, has vanquished the tempter and won the victory and
the reward--the Crown of Life. Happy is that soul, for St. James says,
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he
shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them
that love Him." We must therefore strive to grasp the fact that
temptation is not an evil, on the contrary it is the only way in which
the soul can be developed. Instead therefore of meeting it with fear
and trembling {vii} and great reluctance, St. James says, "Count it all
joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying
of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect
work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." A
well-known spiritual guide says, "But how are we to overcome
temptations? Cheerfulness is the first thing, cheerfulness the second,
and cheerfulness the third." This is but a homely way of putting St.
James' injunction, "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers
temptations."

In the book of Ecclesiasticus we read, "My son, if thou come to serve
the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation." We must not suppose from
this that only those who serve the Lord are tempted, though they are
doubtless attacked by Satan in special ways. All men, however, whether
they serve the Lord or not, have to endure temptation, but those who
desire to serve Him will prepare their soul for temptation by studying
its laws, learning how best to meet its assaults, and fortifying
themselves with divine grace for the struggle.

This little book will be found most useful to such; for it will help
them, not only to prepare for temptation, but will teach them the true
purpose of the life of temptation, and the best methods {viii} of
utilizing the attacks of the foe; so that they may leave no stain of
sin, but rather may develop in the soul those Christian virt