Never was any prediction better fulfilled. This spot of history shines with a light before which every other shows pale and commonplace. The companions of Jesus, the humble fraternities of the first Christian century have been the object of reverent interest and intent research on the part of all centuries since. Their history is scrutinized from all sides with a zeal and industry which the most pressing subjects of the day hardly command. For we feel that these men hold the secret of the world's life. The key to the treasures we all long for is in their hands. As time goes on and the stress of life deepens, men will turn with yet fonder hope to the age of Jesus Christ. "And many nations will say: Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. And He will teach us of His ways; and we will walk in His paths."
The stream will remember its fountain; the children of God will gather to their childhood's home. The world will hear the gospel in the recovered accents of its prophets and apostles.
[80] Rom. xii. 1; 2 Cor. i. 3; Phil. i. 8, ii. 1; comp. Luke i. 78. The =oiktirmoi tou Theou, splanchna kai oiktirmoi=, rendered in our Version "mercies of God," denotes something even more affecting,--God's sense of the woefulness of human life,--"the pitying tenderness Divine."
[81] Comp. Rom. ix. 22, 23.
[82] On _grace_, comp. _The Epistle to the Galatians_ (Expositor's Bible), Chapter X.
[83] Compare also, on Faith, _The Epistle to the Galatians_ (Expositor's Bible), Chapters X.-XII. and XV.
[84] =Este sesôsmenoi=: for the peculiar emphasis of this form of the verb, implying a settled fact, an assured state, compare ver. 12, =ête ... apêllotriômenoi=; Col. ii. 10; Gal. ii. 11, iv. 3; 2 Cor. iv. 3, etc.
[85] Rom. viii. 31-39; comp. vv. 9-17; also 1 Thess. v. 23, 24; 2 Thess. iii. 3-5; 1 Cor. i. 4-9; Phil. i. 6, iii. 13, 14; 2 Tim. i. 12, iv. 18, for St Paul's doctrine of Assurance.