The Ways Of Temptation

Deinde concuspiscentia cum conceperit, parit peccatum. Peccatum vero, cum consummatum fuerit, generat mortem. Tribus modis tentatio agitur, suggestione, delectatione, consensu. Suggestione hostis, delectatione autem, vel etiam consensu nostrae fragilitatis. Quod si, hoste suggerente, delectari aut consentire peccato nolumus, tentatio ipsa nobis ad victoriam provenit, qua coronam vitae meramur accipere. Si vero et hostis suggestione paulatim a recta intentione abstrahimur, et vitio incipimus illici, delectando quidem offendimus, sed necum lapsum mortis incurrimus. At si delectationem concepti corde facinoris, etiam partus pravae sequitur actionis, nobis, jam mortis reis, victor hostis abscedit. Quod ut astruamus exemplis, tentatus est Joseph verbis dominae, sed quia concupiscentiam libidinis non habuit, suggestione tantum, non etiam delectatione vel consensu tentari potuit, ideo victor evasit. Tentatus est David visu uxoris alienae, et quia necdum carnis appetitum vicerat, a concupiscentia sua abstractus et illectus est. Atque ubi conceptum scelus perfecit, reatum mortis etiam proprio ore judicatus incidit, quam tamen poenitendo evasit. Tentatus est Judas per philargyriam, et quia erat avarus, ab ipsa sua concupiscentia abstractus et illectus, ad interitum consentiendo decidit. Tentatus est Job multipliciter, sed quia nec possessiones, nec salutem corporis divinio amori praeposuerat, tentari quidem suggestione hostili potuit, sed consentire vel saltem delectari peccato nullatenus valuit. Quod ergo dicitur, Peccatum, cum consummatum fuerit, generat mortem: respicit e contrario ad hoc quod supra dictum est de eo qui suffert tentationem, quia cum probatus fuerit, accipiet coronam vitae. Sicut enim ille qui tentatus superat praemia vitae meretur, ita nimirumque qui concupiscentiis suis illectus a tentatione superatur, merito ruinam mortis incurrit. Sanctus Beda, Super Divi Jacobi Epistolam, Caput I Source: Migne PL 93.14c-15a

Then when lust has conceived it brings forth sin, but sin, when it is consummated, produces death 1 Temptation works in three ways, by suggestion, by delight, and by consent. By the suggestion of the enemy, but by the delight and consent of our fragility. Thus if, with the enemy's suggestion, we do not wish to delight in or consent to sin, the temptation bring us to victory, by which we merit to receive the crown of life. If however, by the suggestion of the enemy, we are, little by little, drawn away from the right intention, and we begin to be enticed by the vice, we offend in that delight, though we do not yet race into the ruin of death. But if the delight in the deed is conceived in the heart, and the birth of the evil action follows, to us, now with the things of death, is lost victory over the enemy. Let us give some examples: Joseph was tempted by the words of that lady, but because he had no desire for lust, only having the suggestion, he was not able to be tempted by delight or consent, and therefore he escaped as the victor. 2 David was tempted by the sight of a another man's wife, and because he had not yet conquered the desire of the flesh, he was carried off by lust and he was enticed. And when he performed the crime, he was judged to have fallen into the guilt of death by his own mouth, which however he escaped by penance. 3 Judas was tempted by love of money, and because he was avaricious, he was drawn away by his own lust and enticed, and he came to consent to murder. Job was tempted by manifold things, but because he preferred neither possessions, nor the health of the body, to Divine love, he was able to be tempted by the suggestion of the enemy, but he could not not consent to nor even delight in any way in sin. Therefore it is written: 'Sin, when it is consummated, produces death.' And for the opposite look to what was written above: 'He who suffers trial, when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life.' 4 For as he who tempted and is victorous merits the rewards of life, so indeed he who is conquered by his own desires and enticed, rightly rushes into the ruin of death. Saint Bede, Commentary on the Letter of Saint James, Chapter 1 1 James 1.15 2 Genesis 39 3 2 Kings 11-12 4 James 1.12