PREFACE. THE present Volume is designed as a continuation of those Christian Researches, in the prosecution of which the Author was engaged during the first five years of his labours in the Mediterranean, from 1815 to 1820; and of which an account has already been published by the Church Missionary Society. In the former publication, a wider range was taken; and a general view was given of most of the countries adjacent to this sphere of Missionary Labour. In this Volume, a fuller description is offered of one particular portion of these regionsa portion by far the most interesting to Christians, on account of its connection with all the great events recorded in the Holy Scriptures. The limited extent of the region here described dispenses with the necessity of that systematic arrangement, which was observed in the former Volume-an arrangement, which was, in fact, absolutely requisite to the clear developement of the condition and opinions of so great a variety of Nations and of Churches, as was exhibited in that publication. In the following pages, many of the Author's observations are given in the form of a Journal. It would not, indeed, have been difficult to subdivide the Volume into parts, each furnishing a separate account of the different classes of society to be found in Syria and Palestine. Since, however, that small country does, in fact, present an epitome of nearly all the Bodies of men existing around the Mediterranean, it is evident, that, in such a partition of subjects, some would have been found too inconsiderable to form by themselves a detached chapter. The want of lucid order, incidental to this mode of publication, will appear, however, to be, in a considerable measure, remedied by the Introductory Section of the Work; in which, by means of an extensive compilation from a variety of Authors, there is presented to the Reader a classical view of the different Bodies of Men existing in Syria and Palestine. In the Sections which follow the Journal, the Author has aimed at developing more fully than his Journal had done, the condition of the people; not without an ardent hope, that the picture exhibited may be the means of rousing the British Public to a deeper sense of their obligations to prosecute Christian Missions in this part of the world. Various suggestions, the result of frequent communication with men of intelligence and piety, are likewise offered, in reference to the character of Missionaries and the measures of Missionary and Bible Societies. In the Appendix is given the Journal of a Visit made, last winter, to the Regency of Tunis by Mr. Joseph Greaves-a friend from whose assistance the Church Missionary Society has, during several years, derived great benefit; and who was desirous to attempt at least, previously to his quitting Malta, a commencement of Christian Investigation and Exertions in North Africa—a region hitherto untrod by the feet of any Protestant Missionaries. Besides distributing many copies of the Holy Scriptures and useful Tracts, he has added to our general knowledge of the States of Barbary some valuable and interesting particulars, which may hereafter serve as a foundation of various practical measures. The Church Missionary Society has felt the advantage of the System of Research thus far conducted, with sufficient force to desire that it should be, in its proportion, steadily pursued. In fact, the former Volume may be considered as a general Survey of the whole of the Mediterranean Sphere; the particular divisions of which will require, each of them in succession, to be filled up, so far as shall be found practicable, more in detail. On this plan, it would be desirable for the public to be furnished with an exact view of the circumstances and opinions of the following principal countries:-the PAPAL STATES, together with the Nations more immediately in relation with them-MODERN GREECETURKEY IN EUROPE AND ASIA-ARMENIA, and the neighbouring regions-PERSIA-SYRIA and PALESTINE (the review of which is, in the present Volume, in a considerable measure, executed)-ARABIAEGYPT and NUBIA-ABYSSINIA-and the BARBARY STATES. An intelligent investigation of the condition of these various regions, prosecuted by the different Missionaries in a truly Christian spirit, with accuracy of observation, sound judgment, meekness of temper, and a practical determination of mind, would furnish to the conductors of Missionary and Bible Societies, and to Missionaries actually on service, an invaluable depository of information, on which to form their opinions and direct their mea sures. It is, however, fully to be borne in mind, that such a System of Research forms only a part—a small, and continually decreasing part, of the work of a Missionary. Enough has, indeed, been already effected, to open an introduction to immediate and important labours. The various Christian Societies of our own Country, of the Continent, and of America would probably all of them concur in this judgment, and many of them are acting upon it. But the spirit and the measures of all need a vast enlargement. It is high time for the faithful members of Christ to be instant in their supplications to Him, who is the great Head over all things to the Church-that He would vouchsafe to pour out the gift of His Holy Spirit more abundantly than ever, preparing all the Nations by a feeling of anxious expectation of some great event, and at the same time sending forth a numerous company of Evangelists to visit all the dark places of the Earth in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ, |