XVI

INTROD  UCTION.

impressed  with  social  evils,  and  at  the  same  time  to  rise  to
the  idea  of  a  more  perfect  order  of  things,  dreams  of  social
reforms  must  have  arisen  in  his  mind.  Accordingly,  in  all
epochs  and  in  every  land,  after  primitive  equality  had  disappeared, ­
  socialistic  aspirations  are  to  be  met  with,  now  under
the  form  of  a  protest  against  existing  evil,  now  under  that  of
Utopian  plans  of  social  reconstruction.  The  most  perfect
example  of  these  Utopias  is  that  wonderful  work  of  Hellenic
Spiritualism,  the  Republic  of  Plato.  But  it  was  from  Judæa
that  there  arose  the  most  persistent  protests  against  inequality
and  the  most  ardent  aspirations  after  justice  that  have  ever
raised  humanity  out  of  the  actual  into  the  ideal.  We  feel  the
effect  still.  It  is  thence  has  come  that  leaven  of  revolution
which  still  moves  the  world.  Job  saw  evil  triumphant,  and
yet  believed  in  justice.  Israel’s  prophets,  while  thundering
against  iniquity,  announced  the  good  time  coming.  In  the
Gospel,  these  ideas  are  expressed  in  that  simple  penetrating
language  that  has  moved  and  transformed  all  who  have  heard
and  understood  it.  “  The  Glad  Tidings  ”  (EûayyeAiov)  are
announced  to  the  poor  :  the  last  shall  be  first  and  the  first
last;  blessed  are  the  peacemakers,  for  they  shall  inherit  the
earth  ;  woe  unto  you  that  are  rich,  for  ye  have  received  your
consolation  ;  the  kingdom  of  Heaven  is  at  hand  ;  this  generation ­
  shall  not  pass  away  till  ye  shall  see  the  Son  of  Man
coming  with  power  and  great  glory.  It  was  on  this  earth
that  the  transformation  was  to  take  place.  The  early  Christians ­
  all  believed  in  the  millennium.  Instinctively,  and  as  the
natural  consequence  of  their  faith,  they  established  a  system
of  communism  ;  and  in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles  may  be  found
the  touching  picture  of  the  disciples  of  Jesus  living  at  Jerusalem
“  with  all  things  in  common.”
As  time  passed,  and  the  idea  of  a  “  kingdom  ”  on  earth
had  to  be  abandoned,  men  turned  their  eyes  towards  “  another
world  ”  in  Heaven  ;  nevertheless,  that  love  of  justice  and
equality  common  to  the  Prophets  and  the  Gospel  still  found
ominous  utterance  in  the  writings  of  the  Fathers  of  the  Church.
Whenever  the  people  ^have  taken  up  the  Bible,  and  allowed
their  minds  to  be  thoroughly  imbued  with  its  teaching,  they