Counsel For Battle

Καλὸν μὲν τὸ πρό κινδύδνων ἐζῶσθαι τὴν ὀσφὸν, καὶ Θεῷ διακονεῖσθαι, καὶ βαλλειν τὰς ἐναντῖας φάλαγγας πίστει, ἀλλὰ μὴ ῥᾳθυμοῦντας καὶ ἐχθροῖς καὶ πολεμίοις ἐκκεῖσθαι· ἐπειδὴ εἰς τοῦτο προήλθομεν ἀβουλίας, ὥστε μηδὲ καιρὸν ἔχειν Θεῷ ἰερατεύειν, τῶν κυκλούντων κακῶν οὐ διδόν των ἄψασθαι τῶν μυντηρίων ὀργάνων· ἐπεὶ καὶ Φινεὲς σειρομάστῃ ἐχρήσατο, ὅτε Θεὸς παρωργίζετο.  Ἅγιος Ἰσίδωρος Του Πηλουσιώτου, Ἐπιστολὴ ΣΛΒ' Συνεσιῳ Ἐπισκοπῳ  Source: Migne PG 78.326c

Right it is to gird one's loins before dangers and to throw oneself into the opposing ranks with faith, but do not by thoughtlessness be exposed to a warring enemy, which one will advance to if one has not the good counsel and holy assistance of God, which does not allow an opening to the evils that encircle a servant in possession of his arms. Phineas was able to made good use of his weapon when God was scorned. 1 Saint Isidore of Pelusium, Letter 232, to the Bishop Synesius 1 Numb 25.6-8