a few individuals who were driven out, but so many as to justify the
expression, "all the church." By thus dispersing the great body of the
church, the Saviour propagated rapidly and extensively his precious
Gospel. For this multitude of lay members--and there were several
thousands of them--went everywhere preaching the word; announcing in all
places, in a way appropriate to their station, the news of salvation
through a crucified Redeemer. They propagated the Gospel throughout
Judea and Samaria; and some of them travelled as far as Phoenice and
Cyprus, and laid the foundation of the church at Antioch. It was not
till the apostles had heard of the success of these lay members at
Antioch, that they sent thither Barnabas to help in the work. It
appears, then, that the rapid and extensive propagation of the Gospel,
in early times, was accomplished in a great measure by the spreading
abroad of the great body of the church; by an actual going forth and
personal engagement of a great multitude of lay members.

Again, the treasurer of Candace, Queen of Ethiopia, seems to have been
converted on his return home, not simply out of regard to his own
personal salvation, but as a means of making known the Gospel in the
distant place of his residence; for soon after, we find in that region a
flourishing church of Christ.

Again, look at the example of Aquila and Priscilla, who labored
zealously at Corinth and at Ephesus. Look, too, at the whole list of
Paul's fellow travellers, and those whom he salutes in his letters as
helpers in the Gospel.

From all these facts it is evident, that in early times God made use of
common Christians in propagating the Gospel. Did he not so overrule
events in his providence, as to show it to be his design that lay
members of the church should go forth in great numbers, and engage
personally, in ways appropriate and proper for them, in the work of
making known Christ? We have then the force of primitive example--of
primitive example, too, brought about by the manifest overrulings of
God's providence. This example is not equivalent, indeed, to a "Thus
saith the Lord;" yet does it not strongly favor the sentiment, that lay
members of the church in great numbers are called to go forth and assist
in evangelizing the heathen?

_To elevate all nations requires a great variety of laborers._ In
illustrating this point, I cannot expect to present it with all the
clearness and force which are due to it. To