Neither ought we, having committed everything to the prayers of the Saints, to be idle ourselves, and run into wickedness, and to lay hold of nothing; nor again when working good to despise that succor. For great indeed are the things which prayer for us can effect, but it is when we ourselves also work. For this reason Paul also, praying for them, and again giving them assurance from the promise, says, But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and guard you from the evil one. For if He has chosen you to salvation, He does not deceive you, nor suffer you utterly to perish. But that he may not by these means lead them to sloth, and lest they thinking the whole to be of God should themselves sleep, see how he also demands coöperation from them, saying, And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that you both do and will do the things which we command you. The Lord indeed, he says, is faithful, and having promised to save will certainly save; but as He promised. And how did...
But God is faithful: That is, He always fulfills His promises.
He will strengthen you: That is, against the deceptions of the false apostles.
and he will guard you from evil: Especially while under persecution and tyrrany.
