"Thou therefore endure hardness; as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." --- 2 Timothy 2:3.
Princes combat with flesh and blood, Christian wrestle with principalities and powers; their wars give days of truce, ours not a minutes rest; conditions of peace there may cause retreat, nothing but death here can raise the siege; kings, if overcome, may save themselves by flight: but Christians may as soon fly from themselves as from their enemies; the soldier of Christ is in a field of continual conflict; he cannot let fall his hands, but Amalek prevails; not to be a conqueror is to be a prisoner; not to win in the field is to lose the soul; security wounds thee, yielding kills thee but victory crowns thee.
Therefore watch as for thy life; fight as for thy soul; the time will come "When these enemies thou seest today, thou shalt see them no more forever." Then thou shalt lay down the sword, and take up thy crown, and sing. "Victory, victory," for ever, through the blood of the Lamb! Let then the prospect of heavenly glory fire thee: though thine enemies be powerful, yet remember to go forth against them in the strength of the Captain of thy salvation. Though assaults be many, and my enemies mighty, if God strengthen me; for the greater my enemy, the more glorious my victory; and the more glorious my victory, the more triumphant my glory.
Lord, let me spare no inbred foes,
But fight them well by faith;
Be daily dealing mortal blows,
And triumph at my death.