PREFATORY LETTER. Ixxix 



him; but who labours like a true-hearted soldier of the Cross; 

 aud knows that where there is ignorance and misery it is his 

 duty to meet them and subdue them by deeds of love. And 

 after all, is it not true that good men, labouring honestly on 

 the principles of the Gospel, have done, and are now doing, 

 much good work in humanizing the world? Speaking of the 

 past, it is absolutely certain that the highest civilization of 

 man, since Christ came into the world, has been reached by 

 those nations which have accepted (at least nominally) the 

 great doctrines of His religion, and professed to make His 

 benevolent precepts the guide of their polity. Strangely and 

 disgracefully as they often swerved from their holy guide, it 

 is still absolutely certain, that all other civilization sinks into 

 moral darkness when compared with that which is to be seen 

 in Christendom. 



But truth is progressive, and neither men nor nations are 

 permitted to remain quiescent on the line of duty; and 

 there is work enough before them. Black clouds are now 

 hanging on our eastern and western horizon which may portend 

 a long night of darkness and tempest: and if I might dare 

 to talk of the future, I should perhaps say, that on the great 

 question of social slavery hang the coming destinies of man- 

 kind, more than on any other that is soon likely to come 

 under the arbitration of States and Empires. 



If a great missionary work remains undone; then, to be 

 done at all, it must betaken up by those who will begin it hon- 

 estly and fervently. But we are often told that the missionary 

 office is now undertaken by ignorant, unlettered, uncommis- 

 sioned men; who have been heating their imaginations anion o- 

 crude prophetic visions, and pillowing their souls on empty 

 dreams. It may have been so in some rare instances. Ignorant, 

 unlettered men would have little chance of influencing the con- 

 victions and turning the hearts of the subtle and civilized 

 Hindoo or Mahomedan of Asia — such men as the learned and 

 pious Martyn had to deal with. But zeal and sincerity are in 



