The Baptists in Sweden. By Mrs. M.F. Anderson ...

EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF SWEDEN. 13
Sweden, it was necessary to commence almost anew
the work. He found the king at Birca, and was
once more allowed to preach throughout the land.
It is said that his success in Birca was so great, that
hundreds were baptized in a day. The king gave
all of his influence to the spread of the new doctrine. But the resistance of Paganism was earnest
and long continued; and beyond the immediate
presence of the king and his court, the missionary
met with little success. It was Romanism, rather
than the gospel, which was preached; and the efforts
of the missionaries were directed rather to make
adherents to the Pope than converts to the faith
in Christ. They were the representatives of a
political power, which was gradually extending its
sway, and preparing for the assumption of all the
authority claimed, two centuries later, by Gregory
VII. On the part of some there was indifference,
on the part of others, opposition to their religious
teachings; while the great mass of the people regarded with deep aversion their political mission.
Thus another century rolled on.
At length Eric Arsaell came to the throne in
993. He embraced with zeal the doctrines of the
missionaries, and favored their work. He himself
is said to have been baptized at Sigtuna, and his
example was followed by many of the chief men of
the country. He commanded the heathen temples
to be destroyed, the idols to be broken, and made
it a penal offense to offer heathen sacrifices. But
2