WARD (William). View of the History, Literature, and Mytho logy of the Hindoos. 3 vol. 8vo. 1822.-Farewell Letters. 12mo. JONES (Sir W). Institutes of the Hindoo Law. 8vo. 1797. ALLEY (Jerome). Vindiciae Christianæ. 8vo. 1826. A learned and comprehensive survey of the features of false religion, as contrasted with Christianity. See also Ryan's Effects of Religion. CUDWORTH (Ralph). Intellectual System. 4 Vol. 8vo. It will at least be expedient, I had almost said necessary, to know so much of the opinions of Heathen Antiquity as is to be learned from those authentic documents which the industry of the indefatigable Cudworth has collected and arranged with great judgment,'-Horsley. (2.) Mohammedan. THE KORAN, translated by George Sale. 2 Vol. 8vo. There is a refutation of the Koran by Lewis Maraccii. 2 Vol. folio. 1698. He gives the original Koran, a translation, notes, and refutation. Grotius's last book on the truth of Christianity, answers the Mohammedans. PRIDEAUX (H). The true Nature of Imposture. 8vo. 1723. MARTYN (Henry). Controversial Tracts, edited by Professor Lee. 8vo. RELANDI (H). De Religione Mohammedica. 8vo. 1717. The Author would close this long list of Books with one or two practical remarks. The importance of being rightly guided from above to that sound knowledge which will not be condemned in the great day, is unspeakable. May we ever first seek that guidance. A diligent preparation for obtaining Holy Orders is a clear duty, but ministers should not make their ordination the termination of their studies. Have not some, after just acquiring sufficient knowledge to pass an examination, felt wholly relieved in the thought of having no further account to give to men of their knowledge or ignorance, regardless, as has been observed, of the tremendous account, to be rendered before the tribunal of God? Of all the heavy judgments which can fall upon a people, none are more tremendous than that of ignorant and wicked ministers. When it can be said of a place, O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths; when they call evil good, and good evil-put darkness for light, and light for darkness, then is there a special divine displeasure. Amos viii. 11. Surely every minister should, above all things, dread bringing this tremendous judgment upon a land. If the Assyrian was the rod of God's anger on Israel for a season; he at the same time ensured his own destruction. May we earnestly seek, not the pleasing of man, nor our own ease, glory, or reputation, but the truth of God, first for ourselves, and then for others. If we are commissioned, " Go and teach;" surely we ought to be taught ourselves, and should especially and diligently seek Divine teaching. CHAPTER XVII. THE MISSIONARY'S LIBRARY. A Missionary, in the true sense of the term, is the highest style and title of man. We need not tell our Readers in general, that the word Apostle, derived from the Greek language, is similar in its import to the word Missionary, derived from the Latin, and both mean one sent forth; a messenger not merely from man, but a messenger from the most high God ;Missionaries are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech men by them. Well then may we, in the last place point out the Missionary's Library; he sustains a far higher office than any that dignified human titles in a Christian country confer. We would not however, by distinct lists, strengthen an impression which is too general, that the Ministerial and Missionary offices are essentially distinct. All ministers ought to be in truth Missionaries. But there are many works which are more immediately requisite on a foreign station than in a Christian country, and in this view this chapter is added. Our The chief preparation indeed of the Missionary is included in that divine appointment, by which he, like the great Apostle, is set apart as a chosen vessel to bear the name of Christ before the Gentiles. fervent prayers should daily be offered up to the Lord of the harvest to send, or thrust forth himself, labourers into his harvest. Unless sent of him, they will labour in vain; unless he separate Paul and Barnabas for the work whereunto he has appointed them, they will go forth and return without profit. Dr. Buchanan's Remarks on the subject of this chapter, in the sermon preached before the Church Missionary Society, are so weighty and instructive, that we cannot do better than quote them : Missionaries must be men into whose hearts the true light hath shined; such preachers as our own Church approves; who "trust that they are moved to the work by the Holy Ghost." And, with regard to their outward deportment, they must be men whose dispositions accord with those which are described in the Sermon on the Mount, such as the Hindoo Christians call "Men of the Beatitudes:" that is their proper character; and there are more persons of that description in Great Britain at this day, than there were in Judea, in the time of our Saviour. This is sufficiently evident from the Evangelic History. He then thus answers the inquiry, what degree of learning they ought to possess. The preachers, whom our Saviour sent forth, were men of humble condition, and destitute of human learning This was ordained, that the divine power of his Gospel might be made manifest, by the apparently inadequate means employed in its promulgation. All learning, however, of whatever kind, which was necessary for their ministry, was imparted to them supernaturally. But the Apostle Paul-the "chosen vessel "—who was ordained to preach to the Gentiles, was not destitute of human learning, naturally acquired. And we are taught by his Epistles, that we may avail ourselves of every human aid to dispense the blessings of the Gospel; such as rank, wealth, eloquence, and learning. For all these are blessings of God; and are means of persuading men, as much as speech itself. Has it ever been imagined, that a man could preach the Gospel without the gift of speech, by signs alone? All these human aids, I say, are valuable gifts of God; and only cease to be blessings by the abuse of them. It is true, that the Gospel may be preached with great energy by the ministers possessing inconsiderable attainments in literature. It sometimes happens, that the most successful ministrations are conducted by men of very moderate acquirements. And, indeed, the character of the Gospel seems to require, that, in most cases (where the true doctrine is preached) it should give more honour to zeal and diligence than to genius and learning. But it is also true, that God is pleased to make himself known by the use of MEANS. And, when these means are used in subordination to his grace, he will HONOUR the means. This has been the experience of every eminent preacher of the Gospel, in the history of Christianity, from the time of the apostle Paul, down to the pious, the eloquent, and the honoured Pastor, who so long and so successfully ministered in this church.1 It is expedient, then, that those who go forth as preachers to the Gentiles at this day, should, like the first great preacher, have a competent degree of knowledge; that they may be able to meet the arguments of the more learned among the Heathen. I have sometimes been ashamed to see the Christian Missionary put to silence by the intelligent Brahmin, in some point relating to the history of Eastern nations, or to the present state of mankind. I have felt anxious for the credit of Christianity, if I may so speak, on such occasions: for the argument from fact, and from the existing state of the world, is strong ground; both for the Christian and his adversary, in all discussions relating to a revelation from God. This is well illustrated in the history of St. Paul, who disputed with the learned at Athens on their own principles; and quoted their poets in defence of the gospel. Let us then honour human learning. Every branch of knowledge which a good man possesses, he may apply to some good The Rev. William Romaine. purpose. If he possessed the knowledge of an archangel, he might employ it all to the advantage of men, and the glory of God. Some portion of learning, is, therefore, indispensable to ensure even a tolerable degree of success, in preaching to the heathen world. But let us rightly understand what the nature of this learning is. It is not an acquaintance with mathematical or classical literature that is required. The chief use of natural science to a preacher, is, to illustrate spiritual subjects: but if other men be not acquainted with the scientific facts which he adduces, these facts no longer serve as illustrations to them. Neither is a knowledge of the classics requisite: for those Missionaries, indeed, who are to translate the Scriptures, a knowledge of the original languages is indispensable; but for Missionaries in general, who preach to uncivilized nations, classical erudition is not necessary. The proper learning of the Christian Preacher, who goes forth to the Gentiles, is an accurate knowledge of the Bible, and a general knowledge of the history of the world. It was reported to me as a saying of the venerable Swartz, that the foundation of extensive usefulness among the heathen is 'a knowledge of the Scriptures in the vernacular language, and an acquaintance with the history of nations in any language. This seems to be the testimony of truth. The history of the world illustrates the word of God; and the book of Providence, when piously studied, becomes a commentary on the book of revelation. But if the preacher be ignorant of the great events of the world, the "word of prophecy" is in a manner lost in his ministry; particularly in relation to the revolutions in eastern nations: for, in this respect, the east has an importance greater than that of the west; for the east is the country of the first generations of men. To conclude this part of our subject. The Missionaries of this day find by experience the importance of human learning in the present circumstances of the world; and some of them have acquired, by painful study in their old age, a competent degree of knowledge while resident in a foreign land. The Author does not enter here on the studies of the Missionary candidate, preparatory to his going out. These, like the studies which have been mentioned, in giving brief courses of divinity (pp. 397), are of great moment to his subsequent usefulness. All, and more than all, the knowledge acquired in the Missionary Seminary at home, will be demanded by the nature of his labours in the Missionary field abroad. The toilsomeness of dry study will be sweetened to the faithful Missionary, by the hope |