The era of reform movement was an era of world exploration and
discovery. Diaz had founded the south African cape, and Columbus had
given to future generations the New World. The result was voyage after
voyage of discovery, and then awakening, colonization, and expansion.

The famous and learned Francis Bacon, who died in 1626, felt in his day
that the time spoken of by Daniel's prophecy was drawing near. He
wrote:

"Nor should the prophecy of Daniel be forgotten, touching the
last ages of the world: 'Many shall go to and fro, and
knowledge shall be increased;' clearly intimating that the
thorough passage of the world (which now by so many distant
voyages seems to be accomplished, or in course of
accomplishment), and the advancement of the sciences, are
destined by fate, that is, by divine Providence, to meet in the
same age."--_"Novum Organum," book 1, xciii. (Bacon's Works,
Spedding and Ellis, Vol. IV, p. 92.)_

When the time indicated in the prophecy fully came, with the last decade
of the eighteenth century, there was witnessed the upspringing of
movements that have wrought mightily for the enlightenment and
evangelization of the world. As the events of the French Revolution
announced the closing of the long era of papal supremacy, so also
another series of events at the same time announced the opening of the
era of increasing knowledge. Speaking of these developments, Lorimer, a
Scottish writer, said:

"At the very time when Satan is hoping for, and the timid are