THE GROWTH OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 



105 



continent, the vast progress of science and machinery , the 

 immense increase of progress and other causes ; by the end of 

 the nineteenth century the population of Europe had become 

 about 360 millions, thus supplying a very large proportion of 

 the numbers of the present Kingdom of God. 



On the other hand, when speaking of this marvellous growth 

 of the kingdom, we must not omit to bear in mind the 

 virulent and extraordinary opposition of the powers of evil, 

 such as the heresies of Christians, the fearful sacrifice of 

 Christian life in the terrible persecutions under Eoman 

 emperors and Eoman popes. Nor must we fail to bear in mind 

 the inexplicable outburst of Mahommedan fury in the seventh 

 and thirteenth centuries, the extermination of Christianity in 

 North Africa, and its almost entire suppression in Spain and 

 Asia Minor. At about the same time torrents of armed 

 ruffians from the East overwhelmed the churches founded by 

 the Nestorians in Central Asia. Cruel slaughter of Christians 

 in Persia added vast numbers of men, women, and children to 

 the noble army of martyrs. 



Further, whenever conversions in large numbers took place, 

 there invariably followed a reaction and a revival of Paganism ; 

 compulsory imposition of the Christian religion gave occasion 

 to the mingling of heathen ideas and practices with the 

 teaching of the new faith : heresies sprang up from the fallen 

 soil of the human heart. The time and prayerful energy of the 

 Church was rightly and necessarily occupied in defining 

 Christian doctrine, and drawing up " articles " of true religion 

 and creeds and " confessions " of faith. Notwithstanding all 

 this, the onward roll of the Kingdom has never been really 

 staid. Defeated in one scene of its triumphs, it has planted 

 the Cross in other lands, and has proved ultimately to be the 

 conquering religion. 



With these facts before our minds, let us ask. What explana- 

 tion does the Bible afford us ? In Ephesians iii, 11, and i, 8, 

 we read of the " eternal purpose " carried out " in all wisdom 

 and prudence." The first of these expressions indicates that 

 the overthrow of every opposing power, the destruction of 

 " the w T orks of the wicked one," and the establishment of a 

 universal empire of truth and righteousness, is the Eternal 

 Purpose of " the living God." The second expression used by 

 the inspired Apostle discloses to us that the growth of the 

 Kingdom of God is in His hands, and managed from first to 

 last " with wisdom and prudence." St. Paul learned this from 

 the Old Testament. The passages are too numerous to quote. 



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