hope which was as "an anchor of the soul, both
sure and steadfast."(582) They had been witness to the wisdom and power of
God, and they were "persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature," would be able to separate
them from "the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." "In all
these things," they said, "we are more than conquerors through Him that
loved us."(583) "The word of the Lord endureth forever."(584) And "who is
he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is _risen
again_, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession
for us."(585)

Saith the Lord: "My people shall never be ashamed."(586) "Weeping may
endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."(587) When on His
resurrection day these disciples met the Saviour, and their hearts burned
within them as they listened to His words; when they looked upon the head
and hands and feet that had been bruised for them; when, before His
ascension, Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands
in blessing, bade them, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel,"
adding, "Lo, I am with you alway;"(588) when on the day of Pentecost the
promised Comforter descended, and the power from on high was given, and
the souls of the believers thrilled with the conscious presence of their
ascended Lord,--then, even though, like His, their pathway led through
sacrifice and martyrdom, would they have exchanged the ministry of the
gospel of His grace, with the "crown of righteousness" to be received at
His coming, for the glory of an earthly throne, which had been the hope of
their earlier discipleship? He who is "able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think," had granted them, with the fellowship of
His sufferings, the communion of His joy,--the joy of "bringing many sons
unto glory," joy unspeakable, "an eternal weight of glory," to which, says
Paul, "our light affliction, which is but for a moment," is "not worthy to
be compared."

The experience of the disciples who preached the "gospel of the kingdom"
at the first advent of Christ, had its counterpart in the experience of
those who proclaimed the message of His second advent. As the disciples
went out preaching, "The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at
hand," so Miller and his associates proclaimed that the long