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Martyrdom of Paul and Peter
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has conquered death is able to keep that which is committed to his
trust. His mind grasps the Saviour’s promise, “I will raise him up
at the last day.”
John 6:40
. His thoughts and hopes are centered in
the second advent of his Lord. And as the sword of the executioner
descends and the shadows of death gather about the martyr’s soul,
his latest thought springs forward, as will his earliest thought in the
great awakening, to meet the Lifegiver who shall welcome him to
the joy of the blest.
Well-nigh a score of centuries have passed since Paul the aged
poured out his blood as a witness for the Word of God and for the
testimony of Christ. No faithful hand recorded for the generations
to come the last scenes in the life of this holy man; but inspiration
has preserved for us his dying testimony. Like a trumpet peal has his
voice rung out through all the ages, nerving with his own courage
thousands of witnesses for Christ, and wakening in thousands of
sorrow-stricken hearts the echo of his own triumphant joy: “I am
now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I
have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the
faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and
not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.”
2
Timothy 4:6-8
.
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