Temptation and Evil

Illud quoque necessarie admonet Dominus ut in oratione dicamus: Et ne nos patiaris induci in tenetationem. Qua in parte ostenditur nihil contra nos adversarium posse, nisi Deus ante permiserit: ut omnis timor noster, et devotio atque observatio ad Deum convertatur, quando in tentionibus nostris nihil malo liceat, nisi potestas inde tribuatur. Probat Scriptura divina quae dicit: Venit Nabuchodonosor rex Babyloniae in Hierusalem et expugnabat eam, et dedit eam Dominus in manu ejus. Datur autem potestas adversus nos malo secundum nostra peccata, sicut scriptum est: Quis dedit in direptionem Jacob et Israel eis qui praedantur illum? nonne Deus cui peccaverunt? et nolebant in viis ejus ambulare neque audire legem ejus, et superduxit super eos iram animationis suae. Et iterum, Salomone peccante et a praeceptis atque a viis Domini recendente, positum est: Et excitavit Dominus Satanam ipsa Salomoni. Potestas vero dupliciter adversus nos datur, vel ad poenam cum delinquimus, vel ad gloriam cum probamur; sicuti de Job factum videmus, manifestante Deo et dicente: 'Ecce omnia quaecumque habet in manus tuae do; sed ipsum cave me tangas.' Et Dominus in Evangelio suo loquitur tempore passionis: 'Nullam haberes adversum me potestatem, nisi datum esset tibi desuper.' Quando autem rogamus ne in tentationem veniamus, admonemur infirmitatis et imbellicitatis nostrae dum sic rogamus, ne quis se insolenter extollat, ne quis sibi superbe atque arroganter aliquid assumat, ne quis sibi aut confessionis aut passionis gloriam suam ducat, cum Dominus ipse humilitatem docens dixerit: 'Vigilate et orate, ne veniatis in tentationem.'  Sanctus Cyprianus, Liber de Oratione Dominica

Moreover the Lord of necessity admonishes that we say in prayer, 'And do not let us be led into temptation.' In which it is shown that the adversary cannot do anything against us unless God has previously permitted it; so that all our fear, and devotion, and obedience may be turned toward God when in our temptations nothing is allowed to evil unless power is given from Him. This is proved by divine Scripture, which says, 'Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and fought against it; and the Lord gave it into his hand.' And power is given to evil against us according to our sins, as it is written, 'Who gave Jacob as spoil, and Israel to those who make prey of Him? Was it not the Lord against whom they sinned? They would not walk in His ways, nor hear His law, and He brought down upon them the anger of His displeasure.' And again, when Solomon sinned and departed from the precepts and ways of the Lord, it is written, 'And the Lord roused up Satan against Solomon.'  Power is given against us in two ways: either for punishment when we err, or for glory when we are tested, as we see was done to Job; as God makes manifest, saying, 'Behold, all that he has I give into your hands; but take care not to touch the man himself.' And the Lord in His Gospel says, in the time of passion, 'You could have no power over me unless it were given you from above.' When we ask that we may not come into temptation, we are reminded of our infirmity and weakness while we ask, lest any should insolently elevate himself, lest any should proudly and arrogantly assume anything to himself, lest any should attribute to himself the glory either of confession or of his suffering, when the Lord Himself, teaching humility, said, 'Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation.' Saint Cyprian, On The Lord's Prayer