A Saying of the Fathers

“/ re7ne77iber 07ie of the fathers bri7igeth 17i the flesh, sayi7ig €f believers, *Ego deficiam, will surely fail the77i a7id 7nakc ihein 7niscarry; and the world, Ego decipiam, will deceive ihe77i and e7itice the77i; a7id Sata7i, Ego eripiam, will S7iatch the77t and carry the77i away; but God saith, Ego custodiam, will keep the77t, I will 7iever fail thein 7ior forsake the77z’ Here lieth our safety a7id security.’ In other words, the flesh saith, “I will deceive;” the world, ‘’ I will defile;” the devil, ‘’ I will destroy;” but the Lord saith, “I will defend”; and that one word of God takes the sting from all the rest. The flesh is as a drawn sword, the world as a sharp spear, and Satan as a poisoned arrow; but the Lord God is a shield, and this baffles all. The flesh is much, the world is more, and Satan is most of all; but God is all in all. The flesh must die, the world must pass away, Satan must be overthrown; but the word of our God abideth for ever; and as the word of God is the life of the saints, they shall also abide world without end. What a rest this affords us when we are looking out of the windows of the future! The Lord will be our succour in the days to come!