Paul despised all fear, and every hostile onset. — Let us see how he despises fear, who tramples down the very swords of his adversaries while enumerating them. For he says: Who shall separate us from the love of God? shall tribulation, or distress, or famine, or persecution (Rom. 8:35)? Now in fear the punishment to come is feared, but in the sword the pain of a present blow is already felt. Since, therefore, the holy man fears not the adversities to come, he despises fear; and since he is not overcome even by the blow that comes upon him, he in no way yields to swords. Against this horse, therefore, there are as many swords of the foes as there are kinds of persecutions; all of which, meeting them, he overcomes, because for the love of life he prepares himself for destruction.