He urges all with whom he has to do to acquaint themselves with God and be at peace with Him, and assures them that so good shall come to them. This is the knowledge the nations need most; for to know God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent is eternal life.

XX

CHRISTIANITY TRIUMPHANT

GEN. 12:3; Ps. 2: 8; Is. 42: 4; Acts 19: 20; Rev. 7:9

T

HE sacred writers confidently expected the universal triumph of the gospel. They did not entertain a doubt on the subject. The triumph would not be easy or immediate; but it was as certain as that God lives and reigns and makes all things work according to the counsel of His own will. They foresaw and they foretold that the gospel would meet with opposition; enemies would arise without and within the church; there would be times of apostasy: but the cause is God's, and it cannot fail. All the resources of the universe are pledged to the accomplishment of His gracious and eternal purpose, the redemption of all mankind. We have this assurance to sustain and to inspire us as we labour for the world-wide conquest of the gospel of the grace of God. We are not leading a forlorn hope; we are not engaged in an impossible enterprise; our labour is not in vain in the Lord. I ask you to think with me—

I. Of the teaching of Prophecy on this topic. To Abraham it was said, "In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed." This promise referred to the coming Christ. Our Lord said, "Abraham rejoiced to see My day; he saw it and was glad." In blessing his sons Jacob said, "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the obedience of the peoples be." Through Moses God said that all the earth should be filled with His glory. This promise was confirmed with an oath. The psalmist said, "All nations whom

Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord; and they shall glorify Thy name." "Yea all kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him." Speaking for God Isaiah said, "For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, and giveth seed to the sower and bread to the eater: so shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." It was said of the Servant of Jehovah that He should not fail nor be discouraged till He had set justice in the earth, and that the isles should wait for His law. "He shall see of the travail of His soul and shall be satisfied." Daniel said that the God of heaven should set up a kingdom which would never be destroyed, nor should the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it should break in pieces and consume all other kingdoms, and it should stand forever. Micah said that the mountain of Jehovah's house should be established on the top of the mountains; and peoples shall flow into it. And many nations shall say, "Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths." Zechariah sang, "And He shall speak peace unto the nations: and His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth." Zephaniah said, "that Jehovah should famish all the gods of the earth"; "and men shall worship Him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the nations.' Habakkuk said, "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea." Malachi said, "For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same My name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto My name, and a pure offering: for My name shall be great among the Gentiles, saith Jehovah of hosts." It was predicted that the glory of Jehovah

should be revealed, and that all flesh should see it together; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it. These glorious prophecies will not be fulfilled till all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Our Lord said to His disciples, "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock, one shepherd." "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world, for a testimony to all the nations; and then shall the end come." "Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, this also which this woman hath done shall be told for a memorial of her." He never contemplated anything less than universal dominion. The gates of Hades shall not prevail against the church which He founded. Westcott says that the true thought of this promise is that even the strongest citadel of evil shall not forever keep out the triumphant hosts of the Cross. Our Lord's last command agrees with all that had been foretold. "Go ye

into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation." On Patmos John heard great voices in heaven, and they said, "The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever." The redeemed as John saw them constituted a great multitude that no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes and peoples and tongues. They were arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands: and they cry with a great voice, saying, "Salvation unto our God who sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb."

II. Of the teaching of history on this topic. On the day of Pentecost three thousand were added to the believers in Jerusalem. The Lord added to these day by day those that were saved. In a little time the number was five thousand. Soon after the number of disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests became obedient to the faith. After the death of Herod the word of God grew

and multiplied. In Samaria the multitude gave heed with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip. All that dwelt at Lydda and Sharon and many of those that dwelt at Joppa believed and turned to the Lord. Saul of Tarsus was among the believers. He was worth ten thousand average men, because he was a chosen vessel to bear the name of Christ before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. In Antioch much people was added to the Lord. In Iconium a great multitude both of Jews and Greeks believed. In Derbe, many disciples were made. In Thessalonica some of those who heard were persuaded, and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. In Bercea many believed; also of the Greek women of honourable estate, and a considerable number of men. Many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. In Ephesus the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified both among Jews and Greeks. The statement follows: "So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed." The Epistles say that what had been kept in silence through times eternal was made known to all the nations unto obedience of faith. It is stated that the gospel was bearing fruit in all the world, and increasing. Wherever the gospel was preached souls were won. In many cases the number of the converts was very great.

The testimony of later writers is in harmony with that of the New Testament. Tacitus speaks of the Christians as an immense multitude." Pliny, the Proconsul of Bithynia, wrote to Trajan that many of all ages and ranks, and of both sexes, had become Christians. The movement was not confined to the cities, but had spread into the villages and into the country; the temples were deserted; and sacred rites were interrupted; and the animals for sacrifice found few purchasers. Tertullian of Carthage wrote, "Men cry that the state is besieged; that Christians are in the fields, in the forts, in the islands; they mourn as for a loss, that every sex, age, condition, and even rank are going over to this sect." The same