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Objection 1: It would seem that a demon who is overcome by a man,
is not for that reason hindered from any further assault. For Christ
overcame the tempter most effectively. Yet afterwards the demon
assailed Him by instigating the Jews to kill Him. Therefore it is
not true that the devil when conquered ceases his assaults.
Objection 2: Further, to inflict punishment on one who has been
worsted in a fight, is to incite him to a sharper attack. But this is
not befitting God's mercy. Therefore the conquered demons are not
prevented from further assaults.
On the contrary, It is written (Mt. 4:11): "Then the devil
left Him," i.e. Christ Who overcame.
I answer that, Some say that when once a demon has been overcome he
can no more tempt any man at all, neither to the same nor to any other
sin. And others say that he can tempt others, but not the same man.
This seems more probable as long as we understand it to be so for a
certain definite time: wherefore (Lk. 4:13) it is written:
"All temptation being ended, the devil departed from Him for a
time." There are two reasons for this. One is on the part of
God's clemency; for as Chrysostom says (Super Matt. Hom. v)
[In the Opus Imperfectum], "the devil does not tempt man for just
as long as he likes, but for as long as God allows; for although He
allows him to tempt for a short time, He orders him off on account of
our weakness." The other reason is taken from the astuteness of the
devil. As to this, Ambrose says on Lk. 4:13: "The devil is
afraid of persisting, because he shrinks from frequent defeat." That
the devil does nevertheless sometimes return to the assault, is
apparent from Mt. 12:44: "I will return into my house from
whence I came out."
From what has been said, the objections can easily be solved.
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