Not All the Hostile Powers Are Equally Bold

We ought also not to be unaware of this: they do not all have the same fierceness and energy, nor the same boldness and malice. With beginners and the feeble, only the weaker spirits join battle. When these spiritual wickednesses are beaten, then the attacks of stronger ones are gradually made against the athlete of Christ. For the difficulty of the struggle is made greater in proportion to a man’s strength and progress. None of the saints could possibly endure the malice of so many and such great enemies, or meet their attacks, or even bear their cruelty and savagery, were it not that Christ himself, the merciful judge of our contest and president of the games, evens out the strength of the combatants, drives back and checks their excessive attacks, and with the temptation also makes a way of escape, so that we may be able to bear it. [a]