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| That injuries and penalties of persecutions are not to be feared by us, because greater is the Lord to protect than the devil to assault.
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10. That injuries and penalties of
persecutions are not to be feared by us, because greater is the Lord to
protect than the devil to assault.
John, in his epistle, proves this, saying:
“Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the
world.”3762
Also in
the cxviith Psalm: “I will not fear what man can do unto
me; the Lord is my helper.”3763
And again: “These in
chariots, and those in horses; but we will glory in the name of the
Lord our God. They themselves are bound,3764
| 3764
The Oxford editor reads, “Their feet are bound.” | and they have fallen; but we have
risen up, and stand upright.”3765
And even more strongly the Holy
Spirit, teaching and showing that the army of the devil is not to be
feared, and that, if the foe should declare war against us, our hope
consists rather in that war itself; and that by that conflict the
righteous attain to the reward of the divine abode and eternal
salvation,—lays down in the twenty-sixth Psalm, and says:
“Though an host should be arrayed against me, my heart shall not
fear; though war should rise up against me, in that will I put my
hope. One hope have I sought of the Lord, this will I require;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my
life.”3766
Also in
Exodus, the Holy Scripture declares that we are rather multiplied and
increased by afflictions, saying: “And the more they
afflicted them, so much the more they became greater, and waxed
stronger.”3767
And
in the Apocalypse, divine protection is promised to our
sufferings. “Fear nothing of these things,” it says,
“which thou
shalt suffer.”3768
Nor does any one else promise
to us security and protection, than He who also speaks by Isaiah the
prophet, saying: “Fear not; for I have redeemed thee, and
called thee by thy name: thou art mine. And if thou passest
through the water, I am with thee, and the rivers shall not overflow
thee. And if thou passest through the fire, thou shalt not be
burned, and3769
| 3769
The common reading is, “through the fire, the flame,”
etc. | the flame
shall not burn thee; for I, the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel,
am He who maketh thee safe.”3770
Who also promises in the Gospel
that divine help shall not be wanting to God’s servants in
persecutions, saying: “But when they shall deliver you up,
take no thought how or what ye shall speak. For it shall be given
you in that hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye who speak,
but the Spirit of your Father who speaketh in you.”3771
And
again: “Settle it in your hearts not to meditate before how
to answer. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which your
adversaries shall not be able to resist.”3772
As in Exodus God speaks to Moses
when he delayed and trembled to go to the people, saying:
“Who hath given a mouth to man? and who hath made the stammerer?
and who the deaf man? and who the seeing, and the blind man? Have
not I, the Lord God? And now go, and I will open thy mouth, and
will instruct thee what thou shalt say.”3773
Nor is it difficult for God to
open the mouth of a man devoted to Himself, and to inspire constancy
and confidence in speech to His confessor; since in the book of Numbers
He made even a she-ass to speak against the prophet Balaam.3774
Wherefore in persecutions let no one think what danger the devil is
bringing in, but let him indeed consider what help God affords; nor let
human mischief overpower the mind, but let divine protection strengthen
the faith; since every one, according to the Lord’s promises and
the deservings of his faith, receives so much from God’s help as
he thinks that he receives. Nor is there anything which the
Almighty is not able to grant, unless the failing faith of the receiver
be deficient and give way.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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