To be better assured that God does not leave us as it were forsaken in the hands of tyrants, let us remember the declarations of Jesus Christ, when He says (Acts ix., 4) that He Himself is persecuted in His members.  God had indeed said before, (Zech. ii., 8), “He who touches you touches the apple of mine eye.”  But here it is said much more expressly, that if we suffer for the gospel, it is as much as if the Son of God were suffering in person.  Let us know, therefore, that Jesus Christ must forget Himself before He can cease to think of us when we are in prison, or in danger of death for His cause; and let us know that God will take to heart all the outrages which tyrants commit upon us, just as if they were committed on His own Son.

Let us now come to the second point which God declares to us in His promise for our consolation.  It is, that He will so sustain us by the energy of His Spirit that our enemies, do what they may, even with Satan at their head, will gain no advantage over us.  And we see how He displays His gifts in such an emergency; for the invincible constancy which appears in the martyrs abundantly and beautifully demonstrates that God works in them mightily.  In persecution there are two things grievous to the flesh, the vituperation and insult of men, and the tortures which the body suffers.  Now, God promises to hold out His hand to us so effectually, that we shall overcome both by patience.  What He thus tells us He confirms by fact.  Let us take this buckler, then, to ward off all fears by which we are assailed, and let us not confine the working of the Holy Spirit within such narrow limits as to suppose that He will not easily defeat all the cruelties of men.

Of this we have had, among other examples, one which is particularly memorable.  A young man who once lived with us here, having been apprehended in the town of Tournay, was condemned to have his head cut off if he recanted, and to be burned alive if he continued steadfast to his purpose.  When asked what he meant to do, he replied simply, “He who will give me grace to die patiently for His name, will surely give me grace to bear the fire.”  We ought to take this expression not as that of a mortal man, but as that of the Holy Spirit, to assure us that God is not less powerful to strengthen us, and render us victorious over tortures, than to make us submit willingly to a milder death.  Moreover, we oftentimes see what firmness he gives to unhappy malefactors who suffer for their crimes.  I speak not of the hardened, but of those who derive consolation from the grace of Jesus Christ, and by His means, with a peaceful heart, undergo the most grievous punishment which can be inflicted.  One beautiful instance is seen in the thief who was converted at the death of our Lord.  Will God, who thus powerfully assists poor criminals when enduring the punishment of their misdeeds, be so wanting to His own people, while fighting for His cause, as not to give them invincible courage?