Romans 8:35

Romans 8:35. Shall tribulation, or distress, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Well, these things have been tried. As it is written, "For thy sake we are killed all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." In Paul’s day they were being hunted to the death, by thousands, and tens of thousands. Were they separated from Christ’s love? The enemy grew tired of persecution before the saints were wearied by it. You remember how, in the days of the Roman Empire, the Christians came to the judgment-seat and confessed Christ, even when they were not sought after as if tempting their enemies to throw them to the lions, or put them to death. They were destitute of all fear, and though Emperors were worse than brutes, these Christians defied them, outbraved them; vanquished them. They could not put down the Christians.