“The logic appears to be this: to preach the gospel whenever possible; the missions of the Church slowly expand as freedom expands.”

And the idea that there are limits to both civil and church government –

This reminds me of the Gospel going forward into Eastern Europe and Russia by “lawful” means – the direct result, I believe, of faithful Saints and citizens in East Germany allowing for a Temple to be built in not-too-ironically named Freiberg. Then once the Temple was there, the walls soon came down. The Lord moves in mysterious ways indeed.