trials from the opposing efforts of the agents of the "Man of Sin." No measure will be left untried by them, for leading away the Nestorians from the religion of their fathers and subjecting them to Papal control. A few years ago, a Jesuit offered to the Nestorian Patriarch $10,000, on condition that he would acknowledge allegiance to the Pope; to whom the patriarch replied, in the emphatic language of Peter to Simon Magus, "Thy money perish with thee." And of late, emissaries from Rome have tendered to him the assurance, that if he will so far become a Papist as to recognise the supremacy of their master, he shall not only continue to be Patriarch of the Nestorians, but all the Christians of the East shall be added to his jurisdiction? One of the "newest measures" that has been reported to us, is an order purporting to be fresh from the Pope to his agents in this region, to canonize Nestorius, whose name and memory every papist has been required, so many centuries, to curse, -and to anathematize the Lutherans-i. e. the Protestant missionaries, with whom they propose also to class such of the Nestorians as shall not go over to the ranks of the Papists! Strange, that we, obscure men, away in this distant part of the world, should be honored with such special attention from "His Holiness!" And it may perhaps be doubtful, whether such an order was actually issued from Rome, or merely fabricated by her emissaries here, who have doubtless, in matters of policy, much discretionary power. Its object and effect would in either case be the same. The Nestorians, however, fully understand this suprising change, in the Papal estimation of Nestorius, as designed merely to decoy them; and they spurn the high honor thus proffered. And as to being classed with the Lutherans, (Protestants,) a brother of the Nestorian Patriarch and his designated successor, (who was with us at the time this new canonization was reported,) told the Papists, that he regarded it as an honorable and enviable distinction.

As already remarked, papal efforts have succeeded, during the last century and a half, in accomplishing their object on the western side of the Koordish mountains,-sometimes drawing individuals, or families; and sometimes bishops, and in one or two instances, a Patriarch, with the major part of their flocks, over to the Romish standard. But in the province of Oróomiah, and among the Koordish mountains, Papal influence has hitherto been very limited. The Nestorians of these regions have nobly resisted, and our prayer and hope is, that they may thus continue to resist, the intrigues and assaults of the enemies of all righteousness.' Destitute of vital religion and subjected to strong temptation, their condition is perilous. Our confidence is in the Lord to keep them. "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

Is not the almost miraculous preservation of the Nestorian church, from being crushed by the heavy arm of Muhammedan oppression on the one hand, and decoyed and annihilated by the wiles of papal emissaries on the other, an animating pledge that the Lord

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POSITION AND PROSPECTS.

of the church will continue to preserve this venerable remnant? That He will even revive and build it up, for the glory of his name and the advancement of his kingdom! May he not have important purposes for this church to accomplish-a conspicuous part for it to act-in ushering in the millennial glory of Zion? What position could be more important and advantageous, in its bearing on the conversion of the world, for a christian church to hold, than that occupied by the Nestorians, situated as they are, in the centre of Muhammedan dominion, and far toward the centre of benighted Asia! And is it too much to believe, that this ancient church, once so renowned for its missionary efforts, and still possessing such native capabilities, as well as such felicity of location, for the renewal of like missionary labors, will again awake from the slumber of ages, and become clear as the sun, fair as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners, to achieve victories for Zion! That it will again diffuse such floods of the light of truth as shall put forever to shame the corrupt abominations of Muhammedism, roll back the tide of Papal influence that is now threatening to overwhelm it, and send forth faithful missionaries of the cross, in such numbers and with such holy zeal, as shall bear the tidings of salvation to every corner of benighted Asia!

I confidently look for such results, and that at no very distant period, from the humble efforts which the American churches are now putting forth, for the revival of religion among their Nestorian brethren. These efforts should be vigorously prosecuted; for a great preparatory work remains to be done, in this fallen church, and a momentous crisis is approaching. The signs of the times, in this eastern world, betoken the speedy approach of mighty political revolutions. Muhammedan powers are crumbling to ruins. Christian nations are soon to rule over all the followers of the False Prophet. Turkey and Persia are tottering to their centres, and would fall at once of their own weight, were they not held up by rival European governments. The universal catastrophe of Muhammedan dominion cannot, in all human probability be, in this way, much longer postponed. And as the Religion of the False Prophet was propagated and is sustained by the sword, so its overthrow, there can be little doubt, will quickly ensue, when the sword shall be taken from its hands.

The Nestorians, therefore, as well as the other oriental churches, should be quickly enlightened and prepared to take advantage of the approaching changes,-ready to plant the standard of the cross on the ruins of the crescent, whenever the trembling fabric of Islamism shall fall, and push the conquest of the gospel still onward, as fast as so mighty a revolution in the circumstances and prospects of this continent shall open the way. This done, and how soon would the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ!

ORIGIN OF THE MISSION.

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CHAPTER II.

ORIGIN AND COMMENCEMENT OF THE MISSION TO THE

NESTORIANS.

THE mission to the Nestorians was undertaken, in consequence of the favorable representations given of the field, by the Rev. Eli Smith and Rev. H. G. O. Dwight who visited their country, in accordance with Instructions from the Prudential Committee of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, in the Spring of 1830, while on the missionary tour which they made through Armenia and into Persia, the results of which are published in their valuable “Researches." "Another company of wandering shepherds," say the Prudential Committee, in their Instructions to those missionaries, "will present themselves to your attention, in Koordistân, southward of Armenia. A hundred thousand of the Koords are said to be Nestorians, subject to hereditary patriarchs. So large a body of nominal Christians deserve a visit to the residence of at least one of their spiritual heads."* This paragraph, in the Instructions to Messrs. S. and D. may properly be said to have given rise to our mission. They did not visit the Nestorian Patriarch, for reasons stated in their report, from which I extract the following, viz., "We were extremely anxious to extend our journey into the heart of the Koordish mountains, and visit in person Mar Shimon and the independent Nestorians. But all our English friends at Tabréez united in declaring that region entirely inaccessible. Not that among the Nestorians themselves we should not be well received and be perfectly safe, but the Koords who surround them are treacherous and blood-thirsty robbers, entirely beyond the control of the Persian government. Dr. Shultz, a learned German, travelling under the auspices of the king of France, had lately succeeded in reaching Kochánnes; and the Patriarch and his people treated him well; but on his return he was murdered, by the very guard which had been given him by a Koordish beg for his protection." The visit of Messrs. Smith and Dwight to the Nestorians of Oróomiah was short,-of only a few days' duration; but it was most interesting in its character. I can also best give an idea of their impressions of the people and of the field by inserting a paragraph or two from their report to the American Board.

"To the Nestorians of Oróomiah we would especially direct your attention. That Abbas Meerza would, without doubt, patronize

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IMPRESSIONS OF THE FIELD.

missionary efforts for their improvement, and in fact for the improvement of all his christian subjects, we received the unanimous testimony of all the members of the English Embassy. Equally decided assurance was given us that missionary families in Oróomiah would be secure from any oppression; for besides being favorably regarded by the prince, the ambassador also would protect them. Among others who accorded with these sentiments, were two gentlemen who had resided some time in that province; and one of them added that the climate is very fine. Our impression, respecting the climate, from the location of the district and the dampness and fertility of the soil, is, that it must, at certain seasons of the year, be hot and productive of febrile affections.* To the hostile incursions of the predatory Koords, too, it seems to us evident that Oróomiah must be exposed, whenever the government of Persia is disturbed, by either internal or foreign causes. we must not calculate too closely the chances of life. Missionaries to any part of the great field, the world, should ever go forth with a martyr's spirit-hazarding their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.'

But

"That religious instruction is needed by the Nestorians, this and the preceding letter will have sufficiently convinced you. How it would be received by them, experiment alone can determine. We cannot but refer you, however, to their extreme liberality toward other sects their ideas of open communion, and their entire rejection of auricular confession, (that efficient police system of the other old churches,) as considerations which have produced in our minds a firm conviction, that a mission to the Nestorians would meet with far fewer obstacles, than among any other of the old churches. The week that we passed among them was among the most intensely interesting of our lives-for myself, I felt a stronger desire to settle among them at once as a missionary, than among any people I have ever seen. Self-denying indeed and laborious would be the lot of a missionary in Oróomiah. But let him enter the field with the self-devotion which reconciled Brainerd to a wigwam, and inspired Martyn with that noble sentiment-' Even if I never should see a native converted, God may design, by my patience and continuance in the work to encourage future missionaries,'—and contentment will also be the portion of his cup. And as he plants one truth after another, in the mind of an ignorant Nestorian, and sees it take root and bear fruit, thus restoring to the oldest of christian sects, the faith once delivered to the saints,' and beginning the conquests of Christianity where it has never triumphed, a joy which the world knows not of will likewise be his. He will feel also the advantage of his position; that he has found a prop, upon which to rest the lever that will overturn the whole system of Muhammedan

* These impressions, our experience has proved to be very correct. The climate is trying to foreigners, producing fevers, and fever and ague, to an almost unequalled extent.

APPOINTMENT TO THE MISSION.

27

delusion, in the centre of which he has fixed himself; that he is lighting a fire which will shine out upon the corruptions of the Persian on the one side, and upon the barbarities of the Koord on the other, until all shall come to be enlightened by its brightness, and the triumph of faith will crown his labor of love."* How correct and judicious were these views of Messrs. Smith and Dwight-short as their stay was among the people-will abundantly appear, in the course of this volume, as tested by our nine years' experiment.

The American Board justly regarded it of the first importance to commence a mission in so promising a field, with the least practicable delay, particularly, as the simple-hearted Nestorians were in such immediate and imminent danger of being led astray, by the ever-watchful, wily and active emissaries of Papal Rome.

It was in January 1833, soon after the report of Messrs. Smith and Dwight was presented to the Prudential Committee and before it was published, that I received my appointment to commence the mission.

I was, at that time, a tutor in Amherst college, and had cherished the expectation of returning to the Theological Seminary at Andover, at a subsequent period, and spending a third year there, having been previously but two years connected with that favored institution. In view of the urgency of the case, however, I regarded it as clearly my duty to forego that privilege-a decision that was urged by the secretaries of the Board, and sanctioned by the venerable professors of the Seminary. Accepting the appointment, I immediately commenced preparation for my mission, though I continued my labors at Amherst college, until nearly the time contemplated for my embarkation.

So little was then known of that distant and untried field-the name of the people being hardly known out of Asia, save to the student of church history—and so short the period allowed me to prepare for it, that it was deemed highly important I should take a passage in the same vessel with Mr. Smith, as far as Malta, on his return from a visit to the United States to his own field in Syria, that, by the opportunity of familiar conversations, thus afforded, on the way, I might gain possession of the facts which he had collected and the suggestions which his previous missionary experience might enable him to make, relative to our future operations among the Nestorians. This arrangement was highly prized by myself; for hardly could one enter upon an enterprise, with a deeper consciousness of weakness and incompetence for so great and responsible a work, than I felt at that time.

We received our Instructions together, in the chapel of the Theological Seminary at Andover, Sabbath evening, Sept. 8, 1833, ar

* Researches, Vol. II. p. 264. I may here remark in general of those "Researches," that having had the best opportunity to test the value and accuracy of the work, I can pronounce it one of very rare merit, on the countries and subjects of which it treats.