; and Paul accordingly repaired to
the banks of the Gangitas, [91:2] where he expected to find them
assembled for devotional exercises. A small oratory, or house of prayer,
seems to have been erected on the spot; but the little society connected
with it must have been particularly apathetic, as the apostle found only
a few females in attendance. One of these was, however, the first-fruits
of his mission to the Western continent. Lydia, a native of Thyatira,
and a seller of purple,--a species of dye for which her birthplace had
acquired celebrity,--was the name of the convert; and though the gospel
may already have made some progress in Rome, it must be admitted that,
in as far as direct historical testimony is concerned, this woman has
the best claim to be recognised as the mother of European Christianity.
It is said that she "worshipped God," [91:3] that is, though a Gentile,
she had been proselyted to the Jewish faith; and the history of her
conversion is given by the evangelist with remarkable clearness and
simplicity. "The Lord _opened her heart_ that she attended unto the
things that were spoken of Paul." [91:4] When she and her family were
baptized, she entreated the missionaries to "come into her house and
abide there" during their sojourn in the place; and, after some
hesitation, they accepted the proffered hospitality.

Another female acts a conspicuous part in connexion with this apostolic
visit. "It came to pass," says Luke, "as we went to prayer, a certain
damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her
masters much gain by soothsaying: the same followed Paul and us, and
cried, saying, These men are the servants of the Most High God, which
shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days." [92:1]
It is quite possible that even daemons have the power of discerning
certain classes of future events with the quickness of intuition; [92:2]
and if, as the Scriptures testify, they have sometimes entered into
human bodies, we can well understand how the individuals thus possessed
have obtained credit for divination. In this way the damsel mentioned by
the evangelist may have acquired her celebrity. We cannot explain how
disembodied spirits maintain intercourse; but it is certain that they
possess means of mutual recognition, and that they can be impressed by
the presence of higher and holier intelligences. And as the approach of
a mighty conqueror spreads dismay throughout the terr