Know that you have an emperor who has already gone ahead into heaven.
Why have we said these things, brothers? So that when you celebrate the birthdays of the martyrs, you may imitate the martyrs, and not think that opportunities for a crown can be lacking to you, because such persecutions are now lacking. For neither are there daily persecutions lacking now from the devil, whether through suggestion, or through some bodily annoyances. You only need to know that you have an emperor, who has already preceded you into heaven. He has given you the way to follow, hold onto him. Do not, when you have conquered, attribute it to yourself out of pride, as if you had wrestled with your own strength. But presume upon him who gave you the strength to conquer, because he conquered the world. And you will always be crowned and go out from here a martyr, if you overcome all the temptations of the devil.