Faithful people have always been in a marked minority.
We must not forget that the issues of Eternity are settled in Time.
The gospel is not an announcement that God has relaxed his justice or lowered the standard of His holiness.
Nothing is too great and nothing is too small to commit into the hands of the Lord.
Afflictions are light when compared with what we really deserve. They are light when compared with the sufferings of the Lord Jesus. But perhaps their real lightness is best seen by comparing them with the weight of glory which is awaiting us.
Grace can neither be bought, earned, or won by the creature. If it could be, it would cease to be grace.