THE OPEN BIBLE. 565 



that the people may be brought gradually to the absolute ex- 

 cellence of the divine law. It is the very genius of the gospel 

 that men be convicted of sin, by the dreadful contrast of them- 

 selves with God, while the marvellous purity of his law is flashed 

 upon their depravity. 



But whatever the possibilities might be, the indifference of 

 the followers of Islam seals the utter worthlessness of Moham- 

 medanism as an agency of civilization, even to say nothing of 

 saving men. It is indispensable that the missionary have it in 

 his heart to win men to his creed or his purposes. Christianity 

 is more intensely concerned about that than the religions of the 

 heathen, because the conviction of its absolute and universal 

 importance to mankind is inseparable from it. Wherever there 

 is a Christian he feels that every other man ought to be one, and, 

 as between heaven and hell, seeks to. have them so. 



It is naturally supposed by many that the African is peculiarly 

 susceptible to the influence of formula and ceremonies, but the 

 experience of the Mohammedans, whose forms and ceremonies, 

 displayed in indifference, have been unheeded, and the experience 

 of the Roman Catholics, whose wonderful zeal has been insuf- 

 ficient to awaken an interest in their pageantry and their 

 mummeries, contradict the supposition. Ignorant as they may 

 be, Dr. Livingstone's experience was, that the Africans always 

 wanted to know what they were about. It was the mistake of 

 Mohammedan and Catholic that both carried a sealed book in 

 their hand, and the power of Christianity was manifestly to a 

 great extent in its open Bible. Wherever that wonderful book, 

 or any part of it, is given them, or its teachings are read to them 

 in their own language, the deepest interest is awakened. And 

 even when their ungodly passions arise in rebellion against it, 

 it is the theme of their conversation. God hasten the day when 

 his word may be in the mother tongue of all those tribes, and 

 his mighty power be seen in their holy living and felt in their 

 peaceful hearts. Oh, how they need it! — oppressed with all 

 superstitions, imprisoned in ignorance and despised by men ! 



Naturally enough, their superstition is always most active 



about the grave. Death is full of terrors to them. They have 



many foolish ideas about the connection of most trifling matters 



with the dreaded approach of the destroyer. How precious will 



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