Under the Capitol, near to the Forum, in Rome, stood a short arch-way with a gate at each end. In times of peace these gates were kept shut, in times of war they were left open. In this arch-way a statue of Janus stood. There was a tradition at Rome that once, when the enemies of Rome had attempted to enter the city by this gate, the god Janus had caused a stream of boiling water to gush forth from the earth, and so drove them away. ROME’S LESSER GODS. Besides the gods above referred to, there were gods and goddesses of councils of war, of funerals, of thieves of the dawn, of fortune, of fields and cattle, of fruits and flowers, and of a host of other things. But of all minor gods, the Penates and Lares received most honor. These were the domestic gods. The Penates were so named from the place in which they were worshiped, the household pantry. They were supposed to look after the welfare of the family. There were four classes of beings from which men selected their Penates, those of heaven, the sea, the under-world, and lastly, from the deified souls of deceased ancestors. The deified spirits of departed ancestors were called the Lares, and they were supposed to watch over the fortunes of their descendants. The Chinese also, from the earliest times, have in a similar manner worshiped their departed ancestors. THE ROMAN EMPIRE. As Rome conquered the world the gods of the conquered nations were gradually incorporated with their own. Thus an immense and involved system was brought together. Soon, however, the gigantic structure was to topple over before the coming of Christianity, as Dagon had fallen before the coming of the ark of Jehovah in ancient times. Just at this time, the Roman Empire was in the most favorable condition for the introduction of Christianity. Within its limits there was a general peace, great military roads were built, piracy was suppressed, commerce and traffic generally increased, and travel was made safe and easy. Both the Latin and Greek languages were spread over east and west. But one other point of preparation was of greater importance. The deep and wide-spread corruption, brought about by the heathen religions, seemed to be beyond human remedy. Corruption, cruelty, sensuality and the most, unnatural wickedness prevailed. The description Paul gives in his letter to the Romans of the general life of the people has been confirmed again and again. He says: