than you are, and I hope the time is near, when the bigotry, which old Spain has left us, will be so diminished, that we can with safety expunge that article."

and Spanish tyranny has perpet-] tolerant article of our constitution uated, you will wish, probably, to ask whether there is no prospect, under their new governments, that these abuses will be corrected. I answer, there is a prospect of correction, although its progress must be gradual.

With this spirit in the governments, and most other leading inA wise observer of society has dividuals, particularly the young remarked, "that a strictly Roman men, we can see what must eventCatholick religion, and a free civ-ually be the conduct of the cleril government could never long ex-gy, whose all depends on their faist together."

The wide difference which is found between the character of this religion, as it exists in our country, and that which it exhibits in monarchical countries, goes to confirm the truth of the remark quoted, and to give us pleasing hopes as to our new sister republicks at the south. Indeed the change this system has undergone in those republicks themselves, since their emancipation, and the great reforming principles which are now at work, go to show, that, in the footsteps of their liberties, a religious reformation must follow.

It has already been shown, in a former part of this communication, that the system of monasticism, in some of the republicks, is already shaken to its foundation; and it may with confidence be added, that the same causes must soon demolish it in all.

vour. I do not say that this dependence will make the clergy holy men, but it must make them tolerant, so much so that others can benefit them and the country, in a religious point of view.

This is now seen in relation to circulating the Scriptures. When the Scriptures were first carried to the country, a few years since, in the Spanish tongue, many of the clergy said, these books must not be circulated, they will ruin the people. "What, (say those in authority,) can a book, given by our Maker, and found, in the two wisest and purest nations on earth, in every family, can such a book injure us? We do not believe it.

We must not stop the diffusion of knowledge in any way." Such replies from every quarter soon silenced opposition, and the Bible is now introduced, and bought and sold there as freely as in our cities.

When, too, it was first proposed, that foreign Protestants should have a burying place among them, the idea was warmly opposed by many.

One, who watches the signs of the times, may see, too, that causes are beginning to operate, which must make the secular clergy truly tolerant, or deprive them both of their influence and their living. The government in all those places are themselves disposed to be liberal. I do not believe that one man in ten, in civil authority, would now oppose a perfect toleration of religion, if the common people were thought prepared for such an event. The uniform language of political men, The truth is, it has already bewas, so far as I saw them, " Sir, come dangerous for the priesthood I am no more in favour of that in-]| to oppose the progress of honest

But the governments laughed with scorn at the superstitious objection, and asked the priests if they intended always to live in the blindness and intolerance of Old Spain. All opposition on this subject has now subsided, and the clergy themselves are sometimes seen at Protestant funerals.

liberal sentiments on any subject, religious as well as political. It is understood there, that the clergy generally were opposed to the revolution, and that many are yet in heart, friends of the old sysBut suppose that the pope does tem. But if they prove this sus-grant the Republics the privilege pected friendship to that system of appointing their own church in any way, they know their prob- officers. They will then be sure able destiny-they run the risk to appoint their most tolerant men not only of losing their living, but to these high stations, and the of being sent from the country, as church will grow better and more priest after priest has already been tolerant under them.

citement among the lower orders, that the most liberal, enlightened statesmen would discourage it. Although there are many individuals in South America, who have noble and expanded views on all subjects, men who are up with the spirit of the age; still there is in that field a putrid mass of superstition, on which the sun of liberty must shine still longer before we can safely enter in and labour.

In a few places, a Protestant preacher could labour profitably among foreigners collected there, and by private intercourse, if judicious, be widely useful to those of the country. But these places are yet few, as are those where one could be successful in school, and they are mostly occupied.

We must wait patiently a little longer, till the Ruler of nations, who has wrought such wonders in those countries the last ten years, shall open still wider the way, and bid us go

forward.

GREECE, A MISSIONARY FIELD.

||

yet they pay an idolatrous regard to pictures, holy places and saints. Their clergy are ignorant in the extreme Out of hundreds, you will scarcely find one who is capable of preaching a sermon. Of course, there is little preaching; and that little is of tener an eulogium on some saint, than an exhibition of Christ's gospel. The people are consequently ignorant and vicious. Before the Bible Society began its work, the Scriptures were rare, and in most of the schools that exist, the children merely learn to read ancient Greek without understanding" it. Greece offers to view an extensive Missionary field; the different divisions of Greece, properly so called-the numerous Islands of the Archipelago-a multitude of Greeks scattered over Turkey-convents innumerablethousands of schools, now almost useless, but needing only a proper organization and suitable books, to render them nurseries of sound learning. Nor should it be forgotten that the Greek Church is intimately connected with the predominant church in the immense and rising empire of Russia -and has more or less direct or indirect influence upon all the oriental churches-Armenian, Syrian, Nestorian, Coptic, and

Letter from Mr. Fisk, late a Missionary
to Jerusalem, written just before his
decease, and addressed to the "Society
of Inquiry in the Theological Semi-Abyssinian.
nary,"
"Princeton.

Dear Brethren,

all

The Greeks offer the Missionaries many excellent materials to Beyroot, Sept. 20, 1825. be wrought into the great spiritual building-powerful intellect, lively imagination, zeal, energy, enterprise, enthusiasm, love of learning and liberty, which four hundred years of barbarous slavery have not been able to destroy, an earnest desire for civilization, a remembrance of what their fathers were, and the hope of being what England and America now are, and all these traits of character brought into action by the idea that the present is the period of their national regeneration.

Your favour of May 24th, was not received till a year after it was written. It was, however, highly acceptable.-You request information respecting Greece, as a Missionary field. I hope the spirit of benevolence prompted the question, and will prompt some of you to investigate the field personally, and to occupy it.

The Greeks need missionaries, for though nominal Christians,

The Greek Church itself opens || so in preference to every other the door to Missionaries. It has nation on the earth, except the always allowed the distribution of the Scriptures, and has had disputes with Papists on this point. The Greek Patriarchs, Archbishops and Bishops, have generally favoured the cause of the Bible Society, and have more than once written pastoral letters to recommend its object.

English.-There is no time to be lost. It is even now too late. The Missionaries should ere this have been near the field learning the language and preparing to act. Brethren, let no more time be lost. We who have been sent to other parts around the Mediterranean, call to you to come literally into Macedonia and help us. Who would not love to preach in Greek on Mars hill Whose soul would not be filled with holy joy and trembling at the thought of writ

We have printed many thousand tracts in Greek; they have been received with pleasure, and ecclesiastics and dignitaries of the church assists in distributing them. Among these tracts are the Dairy-ing letters to evangelical churches man's Daughter, Young Cottager, William Kelly, Leslie's method with Deists, Watts on the end of time, Dr. Green's Questions and Counsel, and many others translated from the English. To the schools and convents we have free access for the distribution of the Scriptures and tracts, and do not often meet with Greeks who oppose our work.

Several important errors of the Papists have never been admitted by the Greeks, such as papal supremacy, purgatory, selling indulgences, the inquisition, forbidding the Scriptures, and giving the Lord's Supper in only one kind.

The Greeks, however, pray to saints, and enjoin auricular confession, and pray for the dead, and know of no other regeneration than baptism.

The present is a time for a Mission to Greece. The nation is roused-the elements of national and individual character are all in motion. An impression, a turn of publick opinion, the commencement of institutions, which at another time would require years might now be affected at once.

It is desirable that the time of political revolution should also be a period of religious reform.

Americans should undertake this Mission. The prejudices of Greece are all in her favour, and strongly

planted by his own preaching in Corinth and Thessalonica? And methinks the dullest imagination would be fired with a poet's flame on sitting down in sight of Mount Parnassus, or on its summit, to give David's songs a Greek dress. And how ought a Christian from America to feel at the thought of introducing Christianity into such a nation as Greece, at the very commencement of its political existence!

Brethren, if I knew you personally, I would call some of you by name, and put the question to your consciences before God, and in the anticipation of the day of judgment, "Will you espouse the cause of the Greeks, not politically, but religiously? Will you not call on the publick to send them Bibles and messengers of peace? Will you be the first man to undertake the work ?" A spirit of cold calculation may begin to enumerate the difficulties and disappointments that may attend the enterprise. But to all such calculations I answer, The time has not yet arrived when Missions to the heathen are to be carried on without trials, crosses and sacrifices, and long patience. Let any man undertake it full of this impression, and he will not be disappointed.-Brethren, I repeat my plea in behalf of Greece.

Are

citement among the lower orders, that the most liberal, enlightened statesmen would discourage it. Although there are many individuals in South America, who have noble and expanded views on all subjects, men who are up with the spirit of the age; still there is in that field a putrid mass of superstition, on which the sun of liberty must shine still longer before we can safely enter

in and labour.

In a few places, a Protestant preacher could labour profitably among foreigners collected there, and by private intercourse, if judicious, be widely useful to those of the country. But these places are yet few, as are those where one could be successful in school, and they are mostly occupied.

yet they pay an idolatrous regard to pictures, holy places and saints. Their clergy are ignorant in the extreme Out of hundreds, you will scarcely find one who is capable of preaching a sermon. Of course, there is little preaching; and that little is oftener an eulogium on some saint, than an exhibition of Christ's gospel. The people are consequently ignorant and vicious. Before the Bible Society began its work, the Scriptures were rare, and in most of the schools that exist, the children merely learn to read ancient Greek without understanding" it. Greece offers to view an extensive Missionary field; the different divisions of Greece, properly so called-the numerous Islands of the Archipelago-a multitude of Greeks scattered over all Turkey-convents innumerable thousands of schools, now almost useless, but needing only a proper organization and suitable books, to render them nurseries of sound learning. Nor should it be forgotten that the Greek Church is intimately connected with the predominant church in the immense and rising empire of Russia -and has more or less direct or Letter from Mr. Fisk, late a Missionary indirect influence upon all the orito Jerusalem, written just before his ental churches-Armenian, Syrdecease, and addressed to the "Societyian, Nestorian, Coptic, and of Inquiry in the Theological Semi-Abyssinian. nary," Princeton.

We must wait patiently a little longer, till the Ruler of nations, who has wrought such wonders in those countries the last ten years, shall open still wider the way, and bid us go forward.

GREECE, A MISSIONARY FIELD.

Dear Brethren,

The Greeks offer the Missionaries many excellent materials to

Beyroot, Sept. 20, 1825. be wrought into the great spiritual building-powerful intellect, lively imagination, zeal, energy, enterprise, enthusiasm, love of learning and liberty, which four hundred years of barbarous slavery have not been able to destroy, an earnest desire for civilization, a remembrance of what their fathers were, and the hope of being what England and America now are, and all these traits of character brought into action by the idea that the present is the period of their national regeneration.

Your favour of May 24th, was not received till a year after it was written. It was, however, highly acceptable.-You request | information respecting Greece, as a Missionary field. I hope the spirit of benevolence prompted the question, and will prompt some of you to investigate the field personally, and to occupy it.

The Greeks need missionaries, for though nominal Christians,