knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents. Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful. Who knowing the judgment of God, (that they which commit such things are worthy of death,) not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."-Rom. 1:21-32. Yet the same apostle declares, that "without holiness no man shall see the Lord;" and the apostle John, speaking of the New Jerusalem, says, "And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie."-Heb. 12: 14; Rom. 21;27. The heathen are all idolators -at least, with very few exceptions. Yet no sin is spoken of in the Bible with such unmingled abhorrence as idolatry. It is placed foremost in the decalogue. And it is several times expressly declared that idolators, as well as those guilty of other vices common among the

heathen, shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; but that they shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone.-1 Cor. 6: 9, 10; Rev. 21:8.

(3.) The heathen are without excuse. Many people suppose that the heathen worship God according to the light they have, and that they will be accepted on account of their sincerity. But this is not the doctrine of the Bible. Paul says, "The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them: for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse."-Rom. 1:18-20. They do not obey the light they have; and in consequence of the perversion of their faculties God has given them over to their own hearts' lusts. The manner in which they have brought upon themselves their present degradation is fully described in the subsequent verses.

(4.) There is no way of salvation except

that revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is clearly and unequivocally set forth in the scriptures: "For we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin."-Rom. 3:9. If we are all under sin, certainly none can be saved by their own works; and the Scriptures reveal no method of pardon but by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved."Acts 4:12.

"Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. But how shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."-Rom. 10:13-17. The heathen will not be called to account for not believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, because they have never heard of him. In this respect, they will have less to answer for than sinners in Christian lands. But as they have all broken the law written in their hearts, and upon the visible creation, and are all under sin, how can they be saved without the gospel?

CHAPTER IV.

MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS,

EXTENT OF HEATHENISM.

After looking at the heart-sickening picture of heathenism presented in the preceding pages, we are led to inquire how large a portion of the human race are involved in heathenish darkness. The following table is taken from the estimate of the learned Balbi, which was calculated for the year 1826:

This estimate, however, is thought by many to be quite too low. Several others have been made, varying from 653,000,000 to 1,000,000,000. Since this calculation was made, more accurate information has been received, which leads to the opinion that it is too small, In

the table from which the above is extracted the population of the Chinese empire is estimated at 170,000,000; but, from the information obtained by Mr. Gutzlaff, (who has penetrated farther into this vast empire than any other foreigner,) it is the opinion of the resident missionaries that the estimate of the Chinese themselves, which is 333,000,000, is rather under than over the true number. The expedition of the Landers in Africa has also discovered an immense population in the interior of that continent, which would lead to the conclusion that the estimate of 60,000,000 for that continent is far below the fact. We are inclined to the opinion that 1,000,000,000 is nearer the truth than any other number. Assuming that to be the population of the globe, the following division, with reference to their religious worship, has been calculated: