David and Joseph teach to resist temptation. 391 committed, and patiently submitted to what he heard, and Book that he believed insulting words to be not so much re * proaches, as means of assistance, by which he considered that he could be purified, and have pity shewn to him. For we then bear patiently reproaches heaped on us, when we recur in the secrecy of our mind to what we have done wrong. For it will seem a light thing that we are assailed undeservedly, when we perceive in our conduct that what we deserve is much worse. And thus it comes to pass that the insults deserve our thanks rather than our anger, by whose occurrence we trust that a greater punishment can be avoided in God's judgment. 38. Behold, while another person is advancing in worldly prosperity, he feels himself assaulted with the provocations of lust, as the joy of his heart panders to his wishes; but he recals to his memory the conduct of Joseph, and main- tains himself in the stronghold of chastity. For he, when he saw that he was persuaded by his mistress to forfeit his chastity, says ; Beholdmy master^ having given all things to Gen. 39, me, knoweth not what he hath in his hoiise^ nor is there any ' ' thing which is not in my power, or which he hath not delivered to me, except thee, who art his wife ; how then can I do this wickedness, and sin against my lord ? By which words there is shewn one who suddenly brought to mind the good things he had obtained, and overcame the evil which was assailing him; and who, by bringing to mind the favour he had received, crushed the power of imminent sin. For when slippery pleasure assails us in prosperity, this very prosperity must be opposed to the sting of tempt- ation ; in order that we may be the more ashamed at com- mitting sin, the more we call to mind that we have as a free gift received good things from God, and that we may convert the gift of outward blessings which has been conferred, into arms of virtues; that the goods we have received may be before our eyes, and that we may overcome those things that allure us. For because pleasure itself arises from prosperity, it must be struck down by a consideration of the same prosperity, in order that our enemy may perish by that same from which he takes his rise. Forwe must use consideration, lest we should turn into sin the gift we have received, and