"Warfare with the powers of hell is the experience of every individual member of the true Church. Each has to fight. What are the lives of all the saints, but records of battles? What were such men as Paul and James and Peter and John and Polycarp and Chrysostom and Augustine and Luther and Calvin and Latimer and Baxter, but soldiers engaged in a constant warfare? Sometimes the people of the saints have been assailed, and sometimes their property. Sometimes they have been harassed by [lies] and slanders, and sometimes by open persecution. But in one way or another the devil has been continually warring against the Church. The 'gates of hell' have been continually assaulting the people of Christ.
"We who preach the gospel can hold out to all who come to Christ 'exceeding great and precious promises' (2 Peter 1:4). We can offer boldly to you, in our Master's name, the peace of God which passes all understanding. Mercy, free grace and full salvation are offered to everyone who will come to Christ, and believe on Him. But we promise you no peace with the world, or with the devil. We warn you, on the contrary, that there must be warfare, so long as you are in the body. We would not keep you back, or deter you from Christ's service. But we would have you 'count the cost,' and fully understand what Christ's service entails (Luke 14:28)."
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