Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 318
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PAUL BEFORE NERO . 311 The onlyrecordoftheoccasionisgivenin the words of Paul himself, in the second letterto Timothy: "At my firstanswer no man stood with me, but allmen forsookme ;I pray God that itmay not be laidto theircharge. Notwithstanding, the Lord stood with me , and strengthenedme ; thatby me thepreachingmight be fullyknown ,and that allthe Gentilesmight hear; and I was deliveredout of the mouth of the lion." Paul beforeNero- how strikingthe contrast! The veryheightofearthlypower,authority,and wealth,as well as the lowest depths of crime and iniquity,had been reachedby the haughty monarch before whom the man of God answered for his faith. In his power and greatness, Nero stoodunrivaled,unapproached. There werenone toquestionhisauthority,none to resisthis will. The kings of the earth laid theircrowns at his feet. The most powerfularmiesmarched at his command. The ensignsof hisnaviesupon the seasbetokenedvictory. His statuewas setup inthehallsofjustice,and thedecreesofsenatorsand thedecisionsofjudgeswere buttheecho of hiswill. Millionsof subjectsbowed in obedience to his mandates . The name of Nero made the world tremble. To incur his displeasurewas to loseproperty,liberty,and life. His frown was more tobedreadedthan thepestilence. Yet while surroundedby allthe outward semblanceof earthlypomp and greatness, adored and reverencedasa god inhuman form,he possessed the heart of a demon . Paul the aged prisoner, without money , without friends,without counsel, had been brought forthfrom a loathsomedungeon to be triedfor