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dential shaping of political, commercial, and social affairs, so that there may be access, intercommunication, and the possibility of getting a foothold; in short, an open door. Even as it is written of Him who "openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it." This is God's work, just as much and just as truly as it is the work of God that we believe in Him and become inclined to do His will. The world is made ready for missions. But more. There is a "fulness of time," when the Lord needs leaders for new undertakings and special workmen for the harvest that is waiting. Then it is that the Holy Spirit moves mightily within the Church, and the result is a quickening of spiritual life. So the Church is awakened and forcibly reminded of its sacred obligation and of the present opportunity. Within the quickened Church workmen. arise and are prepared and sent forth, and the work of the Lord prospers and is promoted.

In the period of apostolic and post-apostolic missions the overruling and guiding providence of God is illustrated in a striking manner and on a grand scale. The "fulness of time" is indicated not only in the birth of Christ, the promised Messiah, but also in the preparation of the world for His coming and for the wide and rapid extension of His kingdom. that enter into the work of paring the field at this time. great obstacles to be faced political obstacles, of which we in our day have hardly any conception. Becoming a Christian meant enduring

1 Rev. 3, 7. 8.

There are large factors opening the door and preFor one thing, there were and overcome, social and

persecution and social ostracism. The stupendous evils of polytheism, superstition and reeking moral corruption surged like a flood about the disciples of the Nazarene and threatened to engulf the infant Church. But even these obstacles were overruled in such a way as to make the wrath of man to praise God and prepare the way for the promulgation of the Gospel, while many other forces and factors were shaped and made conducive to the same end.

These factors in the providential preparation of the world for missions may be summed up under three heads: Greek culture, Roman law, and Jewish monotheism. "Philosophy, science, culture in the broad sense of the term, are the gift of the Greeks to mankind; law and civil polity are a legacy from the Romans; but 'salvation is of the Jews.' "2 The Greek nation had gained an intellectual supremacy before the Roman conquests established a political sovereignty. Grecian philosophy degenerated into bald skepticism and atheism, but it helped to undermine polytheism, and the very despair of finding peace amid the confusion of conflicting opinions and theories created in many souls a longing and expectancy that made them peculiarly receptive for the preaching of the Gospel. The spread of the Greek language, in which the New Testament was to be written, and which was destined to be for a long time the language of the world, was an important element of the problem.

The Roman legions in their march of conquest, creating an Empire of thirty-five provinces stretching

ism.

'Cf. Uhlhorn, The Conflict of Christianity with Heathen

'Fisher, History of the Christian Church, p. 13.

from the British Isle to the African desert, and from the Atlantic to the valley of the Euphrates, the imperial system of roads, the development of commercial enterprise, of extensive travel1 and intercourse, breaking down social and racial barriers and creating a more homogeneous civilization, and the establishment of Roman law wherever Roman arms triumphed, thus promoting security and protection of life, - these are some of the contributions of Rome in the way of preparation for world-wide evangelization.

The main factors in the contribution of Judaism are the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament, and the synagogues in which these Scriptures were expounded, and where there were frequently found Jewish proselytes who had been won from heathenism, and who proved to be most susceptible hearers of the Gospel. Thus the Jewish dispersion, a divine judgment visited upon a perverse and disobedient nation, was made to contribute its share toward paving the way for the ambassadors of the Crucified. "Every synagogue," as Dr. Schaff says, "was a mission station of monotheism, and furnished the apostles an admirable place and a natural introduction for their preaching of Jesus Christ as the fulfiller of the law and the prophets.""

And as the Lord in His providence was thus preparing the world for the reception of the messengers of salvation, He also made provision at Pentecost for the missionary preparation and equipment of His Church. It was indeed a "little flock," and it looked like an unequal combat, an undertaking doomed to certain failure.

'On the large extent of travel and communication cf. Ramsay, St. Paul The Traveller and the Roman Citizen. "History of the Christian Church, Vol. I, p. 87.

"Never in the whole course of human history," writes Uhlhorn,' "have two so unequal powers stood opposed to each other as ancient heathenism and early Christianity, the Roman state and the Christian Church." But God was with His little flock, and history has recorded the fulfilment of His promises and the triumphs of His power and grace.

2. Triumphs of the Gospel.

For substantial progress with unpretentious and meagerly prepared workers, and in the face of apparently insuperable obstacles, the history of the apostolic age together with that of the two succeeding centuries will always remain a luminous and inspiring chapter in evangelistics. The triumphs of the Gospel are shown in the wide and rapid spread of Christianity in spite of the fierce opposition on the part both of the Jewish and of the heathen world.

Let us glance, first, at the extent of the territory covered by the ambassadors and witnesses of Christ.

By the Lord's direction Jerusalem was the center of operations, and it remained the mother church and the chief center for some years, as long as the apostles made it their main headquarters. The miracle of Pentecost marks the founding of the Christian Church and its enduement with power from on high for the spiritual conquest of the world. The march of conquest proceeded according to the direction of the Great Commission: in Jerusalem in all Judea and Samaria — and unto the uttermost part of the earth. According to this divine plan and mode of procedure the influence of the Gospel was carried out in ever widening circles to the boundaries of the Roman Empire and beyond.

'The Conflict of Christianity with Heathenism.

Jerusalem was the center for the evangelization of Palestine. The general persecution that arose after the martyrdom of Stephen served to scatter believers far and wide, and "they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word." Philip, one of the consecrated deacons, labored with great success in the city of Samaria, and he was followed and his work was supported and extended by Peter and John, who preached the Gospel in many cities of the Samaritans. After instructing and baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch, thus preparing a Christian witness for work in the distant South, Philip was instrumental in scattering the seeds of the Gospel in all the coast cities, from Azotus through Lydda and Joppa until he came to Cæsarea. Immediately after the conversion of Saul, we read in the Acts, the churches throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had rest, were edified, and were multiplied. Then followed Peter's fruitful work at Lydda, Sharon, Joppa, and Cæsarea.

As Jerusalem was the Jewish center of missionary expansion, so Antioch, the capital of Syria, soon became the Greek center. The congregation was composed of Jewish and of Gentile Christians. Among its forceful leaders and able teachers were Barnabas and Saul, who for a whole year taught the people and were unconsciously preparing the congregation for the work of world-evangelization of which it was soon to be the center. Barnabas was instrumental in starting Paul upon his career as the divinely chosen missionary and apostle to the Gentiles.

The three missionary tours of St. Paul, embracing three successively enlarging circuits, closing according to the record in the Acts with his two years of fruitful service in Rome, the metropolis of the Empire, consti