CONFIDENCE
It seems now that if trials and troubles should come, if I could but hold my hand upon
this precious text, I would laugh at them all. “Who can turn him?”—I would
shout—“Who can turn him?” Come on, earth and hell; come on, for “who can turn
him?” Come on, ye boisterous troubles, come on, ye innumerable temptations, come
on, slanderer and liar, “who can turn him?” 406.471
The Christian never loses a grain of his treasure when he passes through the
furnace—in fact, to sum up in a word, he loses nothing. The empress threatened to
banish Chrysostom. “That thou canst not do,” said he, “for my country is in every
clime.” “But I will take away thy goods.” “No,” said he, “that thou canst not do, for I
am a poor minister of Christ, and I have none.” “Then,” said she, “I will take away
your liberty.” “That you cannot do, for iron bars cannot confine a free spirit.” “I will
take away your life,” said she. “That you may do,” said he, “in one sense, but I have
a life eternal which you cannot touch.” The empress thought she had better leave the
man alone—she could do him no hurt. 662.669
Brethren, my confidence in the success of the old faith is not lessened because so
many forsake it. 1952.149