Ixxxiv PREFATORY LETTER. 



of the Pacific. Or we may appeal to more recent instances — 

 such, for example, as the goodly Christian fruits produced in 

 New Zealand, by the apostolical labours of the faithful, pious, 

 and brave Bishop Selwyn. 



But a true-hearted Christian does not need an appeal to 

 facts, however much he may rejoice to think of them. The 

 book of life is before him. He knows its commands and its 

 promises, and he feels its hopes. He knows well that its pro- 

 mises embrace the whole human family, and are not bounded 

 by latitude or climate. He does not, on that account, give up 

 the homely duties of that state in which God has placed him. 

 He performs them prudently, loyally, and faithfully. But that 

 does not hinder him from honouring those good and brave men 

 to whom his Maker has given a stronger frame, a wider vision, 

 a firmer will, and an ampler and more glorious line of duty 

 than his own. Such men he honours by outward reverence, 

 assists by prudent counsel, and encourages by substantial sym- 

 pathy. 



Nor can a true-hearted Christian doubt that, in some form 

 or other, Providence will bless those labours of love of which 

 the high aim is the enduring good of the human family. The 

 progress of national civilization, under all conditions, is of very 

 slow growth: but this fact of history, when well interpreted, 

 may become an indirect encouragement, and tell a good man, 

 like Livingstone, not to lose heart because so little seeming 

 progress is made during the course of a single life. Spite of 

 the little that has yet been done, he can look forward with 

 good hope to future days, when millions of civilized men may 

 flourish in Christian freedom and happiness on the hills that 

 skirt the Kalahari desert, and in that earthly paradise which 

 he found near the banks of the Zambesi. 



The imaginative and philosophical idolaters of ancient Greece 

 worshipped the heroes who had figured in their old traditions 

 as the benefactors of their country. And if we are to trust 

 that noble English teacher, who has sometimes been called 



