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Divine Bodyguard, December 15
At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me....
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by
me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might
hear.
2 Timothy 4:16, 17
.
When Paul was summoned to appear before the emperor Nero for trial, it
was with the near prospect of certain death.... Among the Christians at Rome,
there was not one who came forward to stand by him in that trying hour.... Paul
before Nero—how striking the contrast! ... The name of Nero made the world
tremble. To incur his displeasure was to lose property, liberty, life; and his frown
was more to be dreaded than a pestilence.
Without money, without friends, without counsel, the aged prisoner stood
before Nero—the countenance of the emperor bearing the shameful record of
the passions that raged within; the face of the accused telling of a heart at peace
with God
How could Nero, a capricious, passionate, licentious tyrant, be expected
to understand or appreciate the character and motives of this son of God? ...
The results of opposite systems of education stood that day contrasted—a life
of unbounded self-indulgence and a life of entire self-sacrifice. Here were
the representatives of two theories of life—all-absorbing selfishness, which
counts nothing too valuable to be sacrificed for momentary gratification, and
self-denying endurance, ready to give up life itself, if need be, for the good of
others....
The people and the judges looked at him in surprise. They had been present
at many trials, and had looked upon many a criminal; but never had they seen a
man wear a look of such holy calmness.... His words struck a chord that vibrated
in the hearts even of the most hardened. Truth, clear and convincing, overthrew
error.... The words spoken on this occasion were destined to shake nations....
Faithful among the faithless, loyal among the disloyal, he stands as God’s
representative, and his voice is as a voice from heaven.... His words are as a
shout of victory above the roar of battle
[356]
29
Ibid., 492-494
.
30
The Signs of the Times, December 5, 1906
.
370