You who fear God and hold the Faith should be of a ready spirit for all things. Though your portion be the loss of wealth, or this unceasing ravage and agony of disease; though your wife be taken from you, or your children or your friends, yet shall such pain, such separation and such gloom be unto you not an offence but a combat. Let them not break your faith, O Christian, but shew forth your valour in the struggle, since the hurt of present ills shall be taken lightly in the confidence of the good things to come. When victory is attained, the crown is won; but without combat there can be no conquest. For the pilot is discerned in the storm, and the soldier proved in the field: and a trial of endurance is no trial when there is no danger, the combat real only when the foe is real.