IN CHURCH HISTORY. 1 3 



earth. It paved the way for men to understand 

 more clearly what was meant when the Messiah 

 established a kingdom which should embrace in 

 one family all the families of the earth, and which 

 should merge in one supreme sentiment of loyalty 

 to Him, all the differing sentiments of many 

 peoples. 



Second, the progress of the Roman armies and 

 of commerce, and of their language, had led to the 

 opening of communications with far distant nations, 

 and over the highways of travel thus opened, the 

 heralds of the Gospel of Peace were subsequently 

 to go. Rome acted unconsciously as the pioneer 

 of the Church of Christ. 



When we come to look at the social condition of 

 the world as it was then, the view is a saddening 

 one, and shows how the world needed the truths 

 which the Christ was to proclaim. 



Art and literature flourished, and science, as far 

 as it was then known, both material and specula- 

 tive, was encouraged, but there was but little in the 

 culture of the day to make men better. The ties 

 binding families together were lightly regarded. 

 The strong put yokes upon the necks of the weak. 

 Sensual appetites were ministered to at the expense 

 of suffering. The very amusements of the people 

 were such as involved extreme cruelty and the 

 shedding of blood. 



