Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 297
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290 LIFE OF PAUL . -physical,mental,and moral- was on a differentplanefrom his. To them vicepresentedall itsglitteringallurements,and held them willing captives. But from thetoil-worn ,want -stricken victimsof theiroppression,evenfromthepoor slaves,ignorantand degradedastheywere,many gladlylistenedto thewordsof Paul,andfound inthefaithof Christa hope and peacewhich cheeredthem underthehardshipsoftheirlot. Yet whilethe apostle'swork began with the humble and lowly,itsinfluenceextended,untilit reachedthe verypalaceof the emperor. Rome was at this time the metropolisof the world. The haughty Cæsarswere givinglaws tonearly every nation upon the earth. King and courtier were eitherwhollyignorantof the humble Nazarine, or they regardedhim with hatredand derision. And yet in lessthan two yearsthe gospelfounditsway from the prisoner'slowly home intotheimperialhalls. Paulisinbondsas an evil-doer ; but " the word of God isnot bound ." Among the saintswho send greetingsto the Philippianchurch,the apostlementions chiefly them that are of Cæsar's household . Nowhere couldthereexistan atmospheremore uncongenialto Christianitythan in the Roman courtunder such a monster of wickedness as then stood at its head . Nero seemed to have obliterated from his soul the lasttrace of the Divine,and evenofthehuman ,and to bearonlytheimpress of the Satanic . His attendants and courtiers were in generalof the same characteras himself, fierce,debased,and corrupt. To allappearance itwould be impossibleforChristianityto gaina foot-holdinthecourtand palaceofNero. Yet in thiscase,as in so many others,was