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Objection 1: It would seem that men are not assailed by the demons.
For angels are sent by God to guard man. But demons are not sent by
God: for the demons' intention is the loss of souls; whereas God's
is the salvation of souls. Therefore demons are not deputed to assail
man.
Objection 2: Further, it is not a fair fight, for the weak to be
set against the strong, and the ignorant against the astute. But men
are weak and ignorant, whereas the demons are strong and astute. It
is not therefore to be permitted by God, the author of all justice,
that men should be assailed by demons.
Objection 3: Further, the assaults of the flesh and the world are
enough for man's exercise. But God permits His elect to be assailed
that they may be exercised. Therefore there is no need for them to be
assailed by the demons.
On the contrary, The Apostle says (Eph. 6:12): "Our
wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against Principalities
and Powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against
the spirits of wickedness in the high places."
I answer that, Two things may be considered in the assault of the
demons---the assault itself, and the ordering thereof. The assault
itself is due to the malice of the demons, who through envy endeavor to
hinder man's progress; and through pride usurp a semblance of Divine
power, by deputing certain ministers to assail man, as the angels of
God in their various offices minister to man's salvation. But the
ordering of the assault is from God, Who knows how to make orderly
use of evil by ordering it to good. On the other hand, in regard to
the angels, both their guardianship and the ordering thereof are to be
referred to God as their first author.
Reply to Objection 1: The wicked angels assail men in two ways.
Firstly by instigating them to sin; and thus they are not sent by God
to assail us, but are sometimes permitted to do so according to God's
just judgments. But sometimes their assault is a punishment to man:
and thus they are sent by God; as the lying spirit was sent to punish
Achab, King of Israel, as is related in 3 Kgs. 22:20. For
punishment is referred to God as its first author. Nevertheless the
demons who are sent to punish, do so with an intention other than that
for which they are sent; for they punish from hatred or envy; whereas
they are sent by God on account of His justice.
Reply to Objection 2: In order that the conditions of the fight be
not unequal, there is as regards man the promised recompense, to be
gained principally through the grace of God, secondarily through the
guardianship of the angels. Wherefore (4 Kgs. 6:16),
Eliseus said to his servant: "Fear not, for there are more with us
than with them."
Reply to Objection 3: The assault of the flesh and the world would
suffice for the exercise of human weakness: but it does not suffice for
the demon's malice, which makes use of both the above in assailing
men. But by the Divine ordinance this tends to the glory of the
elect.
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