But it may be that in spite of our fears, and in spite of our prayers, God may see fit to bring us into temptation, into some fierce trial that shall test our moral strength. “God,” we read in Genesis, “did tempt, _i.e._ did test, Abraham.” He put Abraham’s faith and obedience to a searching trial. Jesus, we read, was driven _by the Spirit_ into the wilderness, to undergo those forty days of fierce testing. We shrink from these fierce trials, but they are good for us, for if resisted they knit thews and sinews of strength in our souls. We are better for temptation resisted and overcome than we should have been if we had never been tempted at all. It is in conflict with temptation that God’s Victoria Cross—the Cross “for valour”—is to be won. Let us ever remember this—there is nothing sinful in being tempted. We sin only when _we yield to temptation_. Well, supposing that God does see fit to let us enter into temptation, to let our strength and courage be tested in fierce, grim, deadly conflict with sin and evil, what shall we pray for? We will pray then, “Deliver us from the evil one.” We will pray to Him to help us, that we may not sin against Him by yielding. We will ask Him to clothe us with the whole armour of God, and to put in our hands the sword of the Spirit, and so enable us to withstand the assaults of the evil one, and having done all things to stand. There shall be on our part no foolish rushing into temptation; nay, remembering our own weakness we will pray, “Father, lead us not into it.” But if temptation comes upon us when we are in the path of duty, then we can look up to him, claim His presence with us in the battle, and say, “Deliver us from the evil one.” We say “Let us not be overcome in the struggle. Let us not be beaten in the fight. Suffer us not to fall away from Thee. Deliver us, by Thy mercy deliver us, good Lord.” And God will deliver us. I say nothing about the man who rushes into temptation of his own free will; but of the man upon whom temptation comes when he is in the line of duty I am bold to say, “God will deliver him.” His promises are here in this book. Here they are—“God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptations make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.” “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation.” “I will keep you also in the hour of temptation.” Christian had a fierce, long, and stubborn fight with Apollyon, but he won the victory at last, and was able to shout exultingly, “Now, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” Oh, take comfort, you who feel the force and keenness of temptation. No conflict need end in defeat. No struggle need end in disaster. Pray to your Father, “Deliver us from the evil one.” By prayer link yourself to God’s Almightiness, take Him with you into the conflict, and every fight shall end in victory, and every