Gleanings from Orthodox Christian Authors and the Holy Fathers

eccles2

But as soon as the spirit has begun to love heavenly things, as soon as it has bound itself with all its intention to the vision of inward peace, the old adversary who fell from Heaven is envious and begins the more to lie in ambush. He imposes harder temptations than was his wont, in or order often, thus, to tempt the resisting spirit as he had never tried it before when he possessed it. Thus it is written: "Son when thou comest to the service of God, stand in justice and in fear, and prepare thy soul for temptation" (Eccles 2:1). The Homilies of St. Gregory the Great On the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel