18.

 It remains, Venerable Brothers, that We advise you concerning the fortitude and strength of spirit needed to oppose those things which are against the orthodox faith, which harm piety or which damage the integrity of moral living. Let us be strong in the spirit of the Lord, in good judgment, and in courage.[⁶⁶] We should not be like dumb watchdogs unable to bark,[⁶⁷] allowing our flocks to fall prey to looting and our sheep to be devoured by every wild animal in the field.[⁶⁸] Nor should anything deter us from throwing ourselves into battle for the glory of God and for the salvation of souls: "Think of the way he endured such opposition from sinners."[⁶⁹] If we are afraid of the audacity of worthless men, it affects the strength of the episcopacy and its sublime and divine power to govern the Church. Nor can we Christians endure or exist any longer-if it has come to that-if we become overly frightened by the snares or threats of the damned. Therefore, trusting not in ourselves but in the God who raises the dead to life,[⁷⁰] we despise human affairs and cry out to the Lord: You are my hope in the day of disaster.[⁷¹] Let us never be exhausted in body or in spirit, for we are fellow workers with God.[⁷²] The Lord Jesus is with us always even to the end of time.[⁷³] Therefore let us not be weakened by scandal or persecution, lest we seem ungrateful for God's favor, since his assistance is as strong as His promises are true.