Tertullian.org - for these last days...

http://www.tertullian.org/chi.htm

"Persecution was an ever present danger in Tertullian's time and place. Christians were often perplexed by it. Was it from the Devil? Should they flee to avoid persecution. Tertullian took a tough line as difficult to understand today as it must have been then for he saw even persecution as from God: It never happens without God willing it, and it is fitting-even at times necessary-for Him to do so, to the approval or condemnation of His servants. . . this is his winnowing fan which even now cleanses the Lord's threshing floor-His church, winnowing the mixed heap of the faithful and separating the wheat of the martyrs from the chaff of the cowards... (When persecution strikes), the Church is mightily stirred; then the faithful are more careful in their preparations, greater attention is given to fasts and station days, to prayers and humility, to mutual charity and love, to holiness and temperance. Men have time for nothing but fear and hope. Therefore, it is clear that persecution, which works for the improvement of the servants of God, cannot be blamed on the Devil."