And what was marvellous, it was of the Holy Spirit for this, he here says, led Him up. When? After the descent of the Spirit, after the voice that was borne from above, and said, This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hilary, to spend it in indolence, but to wage a continual war against our spiritual enemies. Then should we come prepared to withstand temptation, and should experience the divine assistance in every difficulty through life. What treasures of grace might we expect, if, as often as we receive any of the sacraments, we were to retire within ourselves, and shut out, for a time, the world and its cares. By this conduct, he teaches all that were to be in future times called to his ministry, how they are to retire into solitude, in order to converse with God in prayer, and draw down the blessing of heaven upon themselves and their undertaking. Jesus Christ was led by the Holy Spirit, immediately after his baptism, into the desert, to prepare, by fasting and prayer, for his public ministry, and to merit for us by his victory over the enemy of our salvation, force to conquer him also ourselves. Mark has, the Spirit driveth him, where the word drive denotes the power, efficacy and alacrity of the Spirit which was in Christ, and which was to be in the Apostles and all. was withdrawn, and taken away out of the midst of the multitude of the people with whom He had hitherto dwelt, that He might have time for prayer and fasting. Thus speedy in every good work are both Christ and the Holy Spirit. And at the close of the same day He commenced His forty days" fast, which He would finish on the15th of February. ![]() Mark says, "Straightway the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness." Whence it would appear that Christ on the same6th day of January on which he was baptized was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness. ![]() Then, that Isaiah, immediately after His Baptism. For Satan is he who accuses men before God perpetually, that he may gain them for himself and Gehenna.
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