The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-23

claim. The slight furry at Jerusalem,
occasioned by the crucifxion, had sub
sided, and the danger, both to Judaism
and Paganism was apparently over.
Why should the old resign? Moreover,
the King of the Jews, and the Roman
Procurator were again friends.
But the Resurrection of the Master
had revived the faith, excited the ardor,
and kindled anew the hopes that were
crushed at Calvary. The commission of
the twelve had been confirmed with re-
doubled emphasis, and sealed with tie
manifest appreciation of heaven. A
conflict between the old faiths and the
new was, therefore, inevitable. But
what mort al man would venture from
purely materialistic data to forecast the
result. Let us look more carefully at
the parties in conflict.
On the one side was Judaism with its
magnificent capital, its renowned tenn
pie, its impressive ritual, with it's sa-
cred memories that went back to Egypt,
the Red Sea, and Sinai with its book
of the Law, communicated with such
sanctions as no other book ever had
with its great Lawgiver, and it's long
line of poet-prophets whose strains still
found echo in the popular heart, with
its profound conviction that the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would yet
fight its battles, as he did Of old, and
recover its vanished glory.
And Pagan Rome wouldjoin hand in
hand with Judaism in the conflict. And
Pagan Rome, naughty and insolent,
with her temples and shTines, her null
titudinous array Of gods and goddesses,
her gorgeous shows and festivals, her
sacred mysteries, her scOfling skepti-
cism and subtle philosophers, was seem
ingly impTegnable. On the same side
would inevitably be ali the high social
caste, the enormous armies of priests
and the servitors of the different Pagan
cults, the pride, the wealth, the scorn,
the indifference, the hatred of all the
wicked in all the world
On the other side we have the twelve
Jewish peasants whom the Master had
commissioned to represent his cause.
And they, and they alone, were to con-
tend with world in arms In truth,
the task they were set to do was no
less than this, to break down all exist
ing institutions, overthrow all false re-
lgions and PHILOSOPHERS, and dominate
the world. And to this herculean task
they were stimulated by no lure Of
spoils, no promise of high position in
Church or State, by no prospect of luz,
ury and ease. When they were COM
missioned as Apostles. the Master
warned them what they might expect !:
"Behold I send you forth as sheep in
the midst Of wolves, and ye shall be
hated of all men for my names sake.
They viii deliver you up to the councils.
They will scourge you in their syna-
gogues, and ye shall be brought before
governors and kings, for a testimony
against them and The Gentiles." To
this certainty Of persecution was added
a pledge of absolute poverty and abne-
cation of self. Take no gold, nor
brass in your purse said the Master.
Take no scrip, ne slaves, no shoes,
and take but single coat To all
human seeming, the means, when meas
ured by the magnitude of the proposed
result, were ridiculously inadequate.
No two cOmbatants were ever more un-
equally matched Upon the eve of the
great conflict these poor men could have
been stimulated to the undertaking by
nothing less than what they had seen
ard heard, and, above all, 10y a descent
upon them of the Holy Ghost. And no
doubt they wildly remembered the
promise Of the Master: Fear not,
little flock, for it is your Fathers good
pleasure to give you the kingdom"
The impending conflict could not
long be delayed, and the signal Of battle
was soon given. Away from the gates
of Jerusalem went the Twelve on their
perilous mission. The story of Jesus
and the Resurrection" was disseminat-
ed in all directions by those messengers
of the amazing dispensation. They
healed the sick, made the lame to walk.
cast out devils, and raised the dead.
Converts multiplied Oh every hand. AS
we wend our way through the avenues
of history we encounter the results of
their labors in all countries, from China
to the British isles, from Tartary to the
Indian ocean, from the Baltic to the
Lybian desert. Every obstacle to their
victorious progress was gradually re
moved. Jerusalem perished miserably.
The Jews were dispersed among all ma
tions, and became unwilling auxiliar-
les of the new faith. Paganism fell,
and great was the fall thereof,
The idols were broken in the temple OF
Baal
And the might OF the Gentle, unsmote by the
sword,
Soon melted like snow in the glance of the Lord.
Christianity took from Jove his thun-
der, from Venus her charm, from Di-