It is your constant patience in faith which will decide the struggle against sin, not occasional victories or defeats.

Oh, the blessed shadow of Christ’s cross! All the flocks of the Lord lie down under it, and rest in peace; millions of souls are delivered by it from the heat of vengeance, and myriads more shall find a covert within it from the wrath to come.

Who is this thief and robber, who climbs over the wall of the sheepfold? this stranger, who tries to lead away the sheep of Christ? this thief and robber, who comes not but for to kill, and to steal, and to destroy? I have no doubt that it is Satan—the god of this world—the prince of the power of the air—he that entered into Judas—he who filled the heart of Ananias and Sapphira.