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Persia. The Scriptures received with avidity, and read with attention.

Chinese in Java observed: 'I have read Mr. Morrison's New Testament with pleasure; it is very fine; and it would be well if every one led such a life as Jesus Christ has taught him to lead.' This introduced a conversation, the result of which was, that the Chinese, on his return to his home, tore all the painted images from the wall, and threw them into the fire.' He has never since frequented the Chinese temples."-Thirteenth Report, p. lxxi.

"By the good hand of GoD," says the Rev. Mr. Milne," and the liberal aid of your excellent society, we have been enabled to send the sacred volume to various parts of China, and to almost every place where any considerable number of Chinese are settled: from Penang, through the Malay Archipelago, to the Moluccas and Celebes, on the one hand; and from Kiddah, round the Peninsula, through the Gulph of Siam, and along the coast of Cochin-China, on the other.

"Such beginnings, at least, are auspicious; and they encourage a hope that they may be the precursors of Scriptural light to the many millions of China, to whom the word of GOD is utterly unknown."

Fifteenth Report, p. lxxxi.

PERSIA. One of the last acts of the indefatigable and lamented Henry Martyn, was his translation of the New Testament into the Persian language. On this version he had bestowed the greatest pains, to render it perfect; and, agreeably to his wishes, a copy of the manuscript was presented by his friend Sir Gore Ousely, Bart. to the Shah, or king, of Persia, whose approval of the performance, as signified in the following extract of his letter to Sir Gore, then Ambassador Extraordinary from Great Britain to his Court, is not the least remarkable instance of those providential openings so frequently recorded in the History of the Bible Society:

"In truth, through the learned and unremitted exertions of the Rev. Henry Martyn, it has been translated in a style most befitting sacred books; that is, in an easy and simple diction. Formerly, the Four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, were known in Persia; but now the whole of the New Testament is completed in a most excellent manner: and this circumstance has been an additional source of pleasure to our enlightened and august mind. Even the Four Evangelists, which were known in this country, had never been before explained in so clear and luminous a manner. We, therefore, have been particularly delighted with this copious and complete translation. If it please the most merciful God, we shall command the Select Servants, who are admitted to our presence, to read* to us the above-mentioned book from the beginning to the end, that we may, in the most minute manner, hear and comprehend its contents." Eleventh Report: Appendix, No. LI.

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"I beg leave to remark, that the word Tilawat,' which the Translator has rendered 'read,' is an honorable signification of that act, almost exclusively applied to the perusing or reciting the Korân. The making use, therefore, of this term or expression, shews the degree of respect and estimation in which the Shah holds the New Testament."

Note by Sir Gore Ousely,

Georgia, Armenia.—Syria, Palestine, &c.

The Committee of the Russian Bible Society, with equal cordiality and promptitude, undertook the publication of 5000 copies of this version, which has found "a grateful acceptance, and a wide circulation, in Persia."

"The eagerness," observes Dr. Paterson, "with which the Persians receive, and the attention with which they read the New Testament, exceeds all expectation. The excellent Martyn, though dead, is now preaching the Gospel to this numerous people. We cannot supply them fast enough. In three days I sent off one thousand copies to Astrachan.” Seventeenth Report of the Church Missionary Society, p. 477.

GEORGIA, ARMENIA, &c.-In the year 1814, it appears by the information of the Georgian archbishop, Dositheos, "that the number of Christians belonging to the Græco-Georgian Church exceeded a million; that in Georgia Proper there were nearly 900 churches; and in Imeretta and Mingrelia, 1100; and that among these 2000 churches, not 200 Bibles were to be found. In fact, but one edition of the Georgian Bible had been printed, and that a folio. The Clergy were, for the most part, deplorably ignorant. Religion was more cultivated by the females than by the males, or even by the priests." Owen's History, Vol. III. p. 43.

"The Bible in the Armenian language is much wanted, not only for the Armenian Christians in the south of Russia, but also for those who live beyond the confines of the empire. Copies of the Scriptures in this important language have become so scarce, that it has been impossible for the society to procure one at any price.”—Ibid. Vol. II. p. 424.

SYRIA, PALESTINE, &c.-The Rev. Henry Lindsay, Chaplain to the British Embassy at Constantinople, thus addresses the Committee in January, 1815:

"Some Greek priests of Syria, by desire of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, who is at present at Constantinople, called upon me yesterday, with a view to procure some copies of the Arabic Bible, printed by the society, in conse. quence of his having seen the copy I presented to the Patriarch of Constantinople, and the short sketch of the society's proceedings which I got translated. I regret, however, I had none left in my possession. The priests informed me, that such is the want of the Bible in Arabic, throughout Syria, that only a few old copies are to be found, and these seldom entire they therefore begged me to request from the society a speedy supply."-Eleventh Report: Appendix, No. LXXII.

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This statement is confirmed by C. J. Rich, Esq. the EastIndia Company's Resident at Bagdad, who, after enumerating the various denominations of professing Christians in these extensive regions, observes :

"Of all these Christians, the Armenians are the only ones who have copies of the Bible among them, and those are by far too few to be productive of general good: this is the more to be regretted, as even the poorest classes are fond of reading the Scriptures. The Bibles in Syriac and Chaldee are to be found only in manuscript in the churches; and indeed they would be of but small comparative use to the natives, the com, mon language of the greater part of which is Arabic. In the church of the

Depository of Bibles and Testaments formed at Jerusalem.

Catholic Chaldean Patriarch of Diarbekir, I heard a lesson read from the Gospels in Turkish, from a translation by a native of Kerkouk, which, to the best of my knowledge, exists only in this manuscript. By far the greatest part, therefore, of the Oriental Christians are wholly without any copies of the Scriptures; with which they have no other acquaintance than what they acquire through the medium of their priests (who are too often lamentably ignorant), or from the detached portions which they hear in the churches, and which they are not often capable of understanding. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance to supply them with copies of the Bible in the languages with which they are most familiar."

Twelfth Report: Appendix, No. XLVIL

One of the latest Christian travellers in this most interesting region, is the Rev. James Connor (employed by the Church Missionary Society); from whose communications, dated in March and April 1820, the following extracts are taken :

"The archbishop of Cyprus having given me an introductory letter to Procopius, the chief agent of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, I waited on him, at the Greek Convent, two or three days after my arrival. He received me in the most friendly manner. He expressed his warmest approbation of the plan and objects of the Bible Society; and acceded immediately to my proposal, of leaving a considerable portion of the Scriptures, which I had brought with me, in his hands, for sale or distribution among the pilgrims and others."

By a subsequent arrangement with this valuable agent, a Depository for the sale of Bibles and Testaments in different languages, during the Passover, has been established in the great square which fronts the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem. On this spot the pilgrims-amounting to between 3 and 4000-frequently assemble; and they will, by this important measure, be enabled in future to purchase, at the very gates of the Sepulchre, "the place where the LORD lay," and to carry home to their families and friends, those Scriptures which will tend progressively to inspire a purer and more exalted spirit of devotion. Thus we behold in our day the fulfilment of the prophetic declaration, "The Law shall go forth of Zion, and the Word of the LORD from Je

rusalem!"

"The patriarch of Damascus received me," observes Mr. Connor, "in the most friendly manner. The system and operations of the Bible Society delighted him. He will encourage and promote, to the utmost of his power, the sale and distribution of the Scriptures throughout the patriarchate. As a proof of his earnestness in this cause, the next day he ordered a number of letters to be prepared and despatched to his archbishops and bishops, urging them to promote the objects of the Bible Society in their respective stations. As soon as the Scriptures arrive in Damascus, the patriarch will make it known to the people, by ordering it to be announced to them in the different churches.-I have conversed with many of the Catholic ecclesiastios on the Bible Society, and its labours of Christian charity, and never

Present state of the Seven Churches in Asia.

have I heard one voice lifted up against it: all that they require is, that the edition be conformable to the authorised text. This text (I have several times made the inquiry) is UNIVERSALLY INTELLIGIBLE. All can understand it." *

This enterprising Christian traveller thus concludes his observations:

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From this sketch of my proceedings in Syria, you will have seen that the channels are now opened for the introduction of the Scriptures into these parts, and for their general circulation.-By means of our friends in Jerusalem, Jaffa, Acre, Saide, Beirout, Damascus, Tripoli, Latichea, Scanderoon, and Aleppo, they will be offered for sale in every part of the country. I have prepared the minds of very many for the operations of the Bible Society in these parts; and I think I may say with truth, that these operations will be hailed with gratitude."-Missionary Register for Sept. 1820.

The following communication, which has long been out of print, is too important to be omitted :—

Extract of a Letter from the Rev. H. Lindsay, Chaplain to the Em-` bassy at Constantinople, relative to the present State of the SEVEN CHURCHES IN ASIA, mentioned in Rev. ii. and iii.

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Constantinople, Jan. 10, 1816. "When I last wrote to you, I was on the point of setting out on a short excursion into Asia Minor. Travelling hastily, as I was constrained to do from the circumstances of my situation, the information I could procure was necessarily superficial and unsatisfactory: as, however, I distributed the few books of the society which I was able to carry with me, I think it necessary to give some account of the course I took. The regular intercourse of England with Smyrna, will enable you to procure as accurate intelligence of its present state as any I can pretend to offer.

"From the conversations I had with the Greek bishop and his clergy, as well as various well-informed individuals, I am led to suppose, that, if the population of Smyrna, be estimated at 140,000 inhabitants, there are from 15 to 20,000 Greeks, 6000 Armenians, 5000 Catholics, 140 Protestants, and 11,000 Jews.

"After Smyrna, the first place I visited was Ephesus, or rather (as the site is not quite the same) Aiasalick, which consists of about fifteen poor cottages. I found there but three Christians, two brothers who keep a small shop, and a gardener. They are all three Greeks, and their ignorance is lamentable indeed. In that place, which was blessed so long with an Apostle's labours and those of his zealous assistants, are Christians who have not so much as heard of that apostle, or seem only to recognise the name of Paul as one in the calendar of their saints. One of them I found able to

The edition of the Arabic Scriptures to which Mr. Connor alludes, as under preparation by the British and Foreign Bible Society, is precisely that which he states as exclusively acceptable among the Christians of Syria. It is a reprint of the Propaganda edition; on the correction of which, Professor Macbride, of Oxford, and Professor Lee, of Cambridge, are bestowing unwearied attention. The New Testament is just completed. On the communication to the Committee of the despatches from Mr. Connor, they directed 1000 Copies of the New Testament to be forwarded without delay to the Mediterranean; and these will be followed by ample supplies.

Present state of the Seven Churches in Asia.

read a little, and left with him the New Testament in ancient and modern Greek, which he expressed a strong desire to read; and promised me he would not only study it himself, but lend it to his friends in the neighbouring villages. My next object was to see Laodicea: in the road to this, is Guzel-hiser, a large town, with one church, and about 700 Christians.

"In conversing with the priests here, I found them so little acquainted with the Bible, or even the New Testament, in an entire form, that they had no distinct knowledge of the books it contained, beyond the Four Gospels; but mentioned them indiscriminately, with various idle_legends and lives of saints.

"I have sent thither three copies of the modern Greek Testament since my return. About three miles from Laodicea is Denizli, which has been styled, but I am inclined to think erroneously, the ancient Colosse: it is a considerable town, with about 400 Christians, Greeks, and Armenians, each of whom has a church. I regret, however, to say, that here also the most extravagant tales of miracles, and fabulous accounts of angels, saints, and relics, had so usurped the place of the Scriptures, as to render it very difficult to separate, in their minds, divine truths from human inventions. I felt, that here that unhappy time was come, when men should turn away their ears from the truth, and be turned unto fables.'

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"I had with me some copies of the Gospels in ancient Greek, which I distributed here, as in some other places through which I had passed. Eski-hisar, close to which are the remains of ancient Laodicea, contains about fifty poor inhabitants; in which number are but two Christians, who live together in a small mill: unhappily, neither could read at all: the copy, therefore, of the New Testament which I intended for this Church, I left with that of Denizli, the offspring and poor remains of Laodicea and Colosse: the prayers of the mosque are the only prayers which are heard near the ruins of Laodicea, on which the threat seems to have been fully executed, in its utter rejection as a Church.

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"I left it for Philadelphia, now Alah-shehr. It was gratifying to find at last some surviving fruits of early zeal: and here, at least, whatever may be lost of the spirit of Christianity, there is still the form of a Christian Church ;-this has been kept from the hour of temptation, which came upon all the Christian world. There are here about 1000 Christians, chiefly Greeks, who, for the most part, speak only Turkish: there are twenty-five places of public worship, five of which are large, regular churches: to these there is a resident bishop, with twenty inferior clergy. A copy of the modern Greek Testament was received by the bishop with great thankfulness. I quitted Alah-shehr, deeply disappointed at the statement I received there of the Church of Sardis. I trusted that, in its utmost trials, it would not have been suffered to perish utterly; and I heard with surprise, that not a vestige of it remained. With what satisfaction, then, did I find, on the plains of Sardis, a small Church establishment: the few Christians who dwell around modern Sart were anxious to settle there, and erect a church, as they were in the habit of meeting at each other's houses, for the exercise of religion from this design they were prohibited by Kar Osman Oglu, the Turkish Governor of the district; and, in consequence, about five years ago, they built a church upon the plain, within view of ancient Sardis, and there they maintain a priest. The place has gradually risen into a little village, now called Tartar-keuy thither the few Christians of Sart, who amount to seven, and those in its immediate vicinity, resort for public worship, and form together a congregation of about forty. There appears then still a remnant, a few names even in Sardis,' which have been preserved. I cannot repeat the expressions of gratitude with which they received a

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