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Objection 1: It would seem that the temptation of God is not
opposed to the virtue of religion. The temptation of God is sinful,
because a man doubts God, as stated above (Article 2). Now doubt
about God comes under the head of unbelief, which is opposed to
faith. Therefore temptation of God is opposed to faith rather than to
religion.
Objection 2: Further, it is written (Ecclus. 18:23):
"Before prayer prepare thy soul, and be not as a man that tempteth
God. Such a man," that is, who tempts God, says the interlinear
gloss, "prays for what God taught him to pray for, yet does not what
God has commanded him to do." Now this pertains to imprudence which
is opposed to hope. Therefore it seems that temptation of God is a
sin opposed to hope.
Objection 3: Further, a gloss on Ps. 77:18, "And they
tempted God in their hearts," says that "to tempt God is to pray to
Him deceitfully, with simplicity in our words and wickedness in our
hearts." Now deceit is opposed to the virtue of truth. Therefore
temptation of God is opposed, not to religion, but to truth.
On the contrary, According to the gloss quoted above "to tempt God
is to pray to Him inordinately." Now to pray to God becomingly is
an act of religion as stated above (Question 83, Article 15).
Therefore to tempt God is a sin opposed to religion.
I answer that, As clearly shown above (Question 81, Article
5), the end of religion is to pay reverence to God. Wherefore
whatever pertains directly to irreverence for God is opposed to
religion. Now it is evident that to tempt a person pertains to
irreverence for him: since no one presumes to tempt one of whose
excellence he is sure. Hence it is manifest that to tempt God is a
sin opposed to religion.
Reply to Objection 1: As stated above (Question 81, Article
7), it belongs to religion to declare one's faith by certain signs
indicative of reverence towards God. Consequently it belongs to
irreligion that, through doubtful faith, a man does things indicative
of irreverence towards God. To tempt God is one of these; wherefore
it is a species of irreligion.
Reply to Objection 2: He that prepares not his soul before prayer
by forgiving those against whom he has anything, or in some other way
disposing himself to devotion, does not do what he can to be heard by
God, wherefore he tempts God implicitly as it were. And though this
implicit temptation would seem to arise from presumption or
indiscretion, yet the very fact that a man behaves presumptuously and
without due care in matters relating to God implies irreverence towards
Him. For it is written (1 Pt. 5:6): "Be you humbled . .
. under the mighty hand of God," and (2 Tim. 2:15):
"Carefully study to present thyself approved unto God." Therefore
also this kind of temptation is a species of irreligion.
Reply to Objection 3: A man is said to pray deceitfully, not in
relation to God, Who knows the secrets of the heart, but in relation
to man. Wherefore deceit is accidental to the temptation of God, and
consequently it does not follow that to tempt God is directly opposed
to the truth.
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