thousands . Beneath the hills outside the city of Rome , long galleries had been tunneled through earth and rock ; the dark and intricate network of passages extended for miles beyond the city walls . In these underground retreats the followers of Christ buried their dead ; and here also , when suspected and proscribed , they found a home . When the Life-giver shall awaken those who have fought the good fight , many a martyr for Christ ' s sake will come forth from those gloomy caverns .
Under the fiercest persecution these witnesses for Jesus kept their faith unsullied . Though deprived of every comfort , shut away from the light of the sun , making their home in the dark but friendly bosom of the earth , they uttered no complaint . With words of faith , patience , and hope they encouraged one another to endure privation and distress . The loss of every earthly blessing could not force them to renounce their belief in Christ . Trials and persecution were but steps bringing them nearer their rest and their reward .
Like God ' s servants of old , many were " tortured , not accepting deliverance ; that they might obtain a better resurrection ." Verse 35 . These called to mind the words of their Master , that when persecuted for Christ ' s sake , they were to be exceeding glad , for great would be their reward in heaven ; for so the prophets had been persecuted before them . They rejoiced that they were accounted worthy to suffer for the truth , and songs of triumph ascended from the midst of crackling flames . Looking upward by faith , they saw Christ and angels leaning over the battlements of heaven , gazing upon them with the deepest interest and regarding their steadfastness with approval . A voice came down to them from the throne of God : " Be thou faithful unto death , and I will give thee a crown of life ." Revelation 2:10 .
In vain were Satan ' s efforts to destroy the church of Christ by violence . The great controversy in which the disciples of Jesus yielded up their lives did not cease when these faithful standard-bearers fell at their post . By defeat they conquered . God ' s workmen were slain , but His work went steadily forward . The gospel continued to spread and the number of its adherents to increase . It penetrated into regions that were inaccessible even to the eagles of Rome . Said a Christian , expostulating with the heathen rulers who were urging forward the persecution : You may " kill us , torture us , condemn us . . . . Your injustice is the proof that we are innocent . . . . Nor does your cruelty . . . avail you ." It was but a stronger invitation to bring others to their persuasion . " The oftener we are mown down by you , the more in number we grow ; the blood of Christians is seed ." --Tertullian, Apology , paragraph 50 .
Thousands were imprisoned and slain , but others sprang up to fill their places . And those who were martyred for their faith were secured to Christ and accounted of Him as conquerors .
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