They are virgins which follow the Lamb whither soever he goes; these were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and unto the Lamb, And in their mouth was found no guile; for they are without fault before the throne of God. Revelation 14:4-5.
Peter, being still in his presumption, pretended to follow Christ unto death; but when he was truly humbled, and near his end, he prudently added to his exhortations in sufferings, "if need be," 1 Peter 1:6. “If the will of God be so." 1 Peter 3:17. "According to the will of God." 1 Peter 4:19. This is quite opposite to the spiritual, hypocritical, and presumptuous pride and self-will; for many in their own will, resolve to be martyrs, and cannot bear so much as only a contradiction.
Give me the wings of faith, to rise
Within the veil, to see
The saints above, how great their joys,
And bright their glories be.
Once they were mourning here below,
And wet their couch with tears;
They wrestled hard, as we do now,
With sin, and doubts, and fears..
I ask them whence their victory came?
They, with united breath,
Ascribe their conquest to the Lamb,
Their triumph to his death.
They marked the footsteps that he trod,
His love inspired their breast,
And following their incarnate God,
Possessed the promised rest.