Origen on Temptation

“Moreover the book of the Shepherd asserts the teaching that two angels attend each human being, and saying that whenever good thoughts arise in our heart they are suggested by they good angel, and whenever thoughts of the opposite kind they are the inspiration of the bad angel. p.283”

“This strength, therefore, which is given to us in order that we may be able to conquer, we by the exercise of our free will either use diligently and conquer or feebly and suffer defeat. For if it were given to us in such completeness as to ensure our victory by all means, that is, to prevent us from being by any possibility conquered, what reason for struggling would remain to him who could not be conquered? p. 282”

“We must bear in mind, however, that nothing else happens to us as a result of these good or evil thoughts which are suggested to our heart but a mere agitation and excitement which urges us on to deeds either of good or of evil. It is possible for us, when an evil power has begun to urge us on to a deed of evil, to cast away the wicked suggestions and to resist the low enticements and to do absolutely nothing worthy of blame; and it is possible on the other hand when a divine power has urged us on to better things not to follow its guidance, since our faculty of free will is preserved to us in either case. p.283-284”

“It must not be supposed, however, that because we said that by the righteous decision of God each man is tempted in proportion to the degree of his strength, the tempted man ought therefore by all means to be victorious; for the competitor in the games cannot by all means be victorious, even though he may be paired with his opponent in an equal match. But unless the powers of the combatants are equal, the victor's palm will not be justly won nor may the vanquished be justly blamed. For this reason God allows us to be tempted, yet nor "above that we are able"; for we are tempted in proportion to our powers. Nor is it written that in temptation God will also make a way to escape from bearing it, but a way to escape that we may be able to bear it. And this possibility that he has given us is in our hands to utilize either vigorously or feebly. p. 281”