In the spiritual combat, unceasing as it
is, there are many considerations which offer comfort. These we shall
not here meditate upon at length. They will find their place before we
close our study of this holy warfare. But it will help and encourage
us to remind ourselves that in this struggle the exercise of strength
does not exhaust the soul.

In the moment that we seem weakest, then are we strong, because
Christ's strength is made perfect in our weakness.[18] Then it is that
God teaches us our own insufficiency that we may look not to anything
that we have or do, but to Him that He may send us "help from the
sanctuary and strengthen us out of Sion."[19] Great strain upon bodily
strength depletes it, but the more unsparing the call upon our
spiritual energies, the more are they confirmed and increased. Then
again, the harder the battle, the more splendid the victory and the
reward. Every Satanic device and energy that is directed against us
does but swell the opportunity for a more glorious place in the
Kingdom. So a Kempis {51} says: "These help to virtue; these test the
young soldiers of Christ; these fashion the heavenly crown."[20]

Thus does evil react upon itself for its own destruction, and surely
none but a pusillanimous soul will desire to flee the honour of being
used as the sure occasion and instrument of the glory of our God, and
of the overthrow of Satan.

III. _The Sufferings of the Saints_

The holy author of the "Imitation of Christ" tells us, "No man is so
perfect and holy as not sometimes to have temptations."[21] The
universality of temptation is found not only in respect to outward
condition and circumstance, but also in respect to the character of
those against whom Satan directs his malice. Saintly souls longing for
a still greater saintliness, if they truly discern the things of the
Spirit, will not fall into the snare of thinking that perhaps some day
in this life they will become so like our Lord that temptation can
never more vex and torment them. To become like Him will be to invite
more desperate {52} attacks. The more we are conformed to His
likeness, the more must we expect to arouse the hatred and malice of
the Evil One. He who is the Holy of Holies was, just because of that
fact, tempted as never other man was tempted.

Not only is our greater conformity to Christ the signal for Satan's
attack, but we must expect the particular occasions of God's outpouring
of gra