August 3

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?—Romans 8:31.

As if he should say, Let me then hear no more about the dangers and the malicious devices from every quarter. For even if some disbelieve the things to come, still they have not a word to say against the good things that have already taken place; as for instance, the friendship of God towards thee from the first, the justifying, the glory. And yet these things he gave thee by means seemingly distressing. And those things which you thought to be disgracing, the Cross, scourges, bonds, these are what have set the whole world aright. As then by what himself suffered, though of aspect forbidding in man's eye, even by these he effected the liberty and salvation of the whole race; so also is he wont to do in regard to those things which thou endurest, turning thy sufferings unto glory and renown for thee. If God be for us, who can be against us?

Why, it may be said, who is there that is not against us? Why, the world is against us, both kings and peoples, both relations and countrymen. Yet these that be against us, so far are they from thwarting us at all, that even without their will they become to us the causes of crowns, and procurers of countless blessings, in that God's wisdom turneth their plots unto our salvation and glory. See how really no one is against us! For it was this which gave new lustre to Job, the fact that the devil was in arms against him. For the devil moved at once friends against him, his wife against him, and wounds, and servants, and a thousand other machinations. And yet it turned out that none of them was against him at all. And yet this was no great thing to him, though it was great in itself, but what is a far greater thing is, that it turned out that they were all for him. For since God was for him, even things seemingly against him became for him. And this happened with the apostles also, inasmuch as both Jews, and they of the Gentiles, and false brethren, and rulers, and peoples, and famines, and poverty, and ten thousand things were against them. For the things which made them the most bright and conspicuous, and gave them praise both of God and men, were these. Just reflect then what a word St. Paul hath uttered about the faithful, and those who are truly crucified, such as not even the emperor with his diadem can achieve. For against him there are abundance of barbarians that arm themselves, and of enemies that invade, and body-guards that plot, and of subjects many that oftentimes are ever and anon rebelling, and thousands of other things. But against the faithful who taketh good heed unto God's laws, neither man, nor devil, nor aught besides, can raise opposition! For if you take away his money, you have become the procurer of a reward to him. If you speak ill of him, by the evil report he gains fresh lustre in God's sight. If you cast him into starvation, the more will his glory and reward be. If—what seems the most severe stroke of all—you give him over to death, you are twining a crown of martyrdom about him. What then is equivalent to this way of life, being that against which nothing can be done, but even they that seem to devise mischief are no less of service to him than benefactors? This is why he says, If God be for us, who can be against us?

"Surrounded by a host of foes, Storm'd by a host of foes within, Nor swift to flee, nor strong to oppose, Single against hell, earth, and sin: Single yet undismay'd I am; I dare believe in Jesus' name.

"What though a thousand hosts engage, A thousand worlds my soul to shake; I have a shield shall quench their rage, And drive the alien armies back: Portray'd it bears a bleeding Lamb; I dare believe in Jesus' name."