lxxxvi PREFATORY LETTER. 



enforce the everlasting truth of God, that Christianity is com- 

 mended to the whole world. At the same time, no nation can 

 hope for long prosperity which practically denies its Chris- 

 tianity. Such a nation is not an instrument in the hand of God 

 fit to work out the holy purposes of His Providence. Men 

 like Livingstone are among the strong fibres that make 

 the complicated textile fabric of our national strength. We 

 greeted him with glad hearts while he was here — we pray 

 that his God and Saviour may long bless his labours now 

 that he is far away : and we trust that in long distant ages 

 he may live in the grateful memory of Christian Africa — 

 not in fabulous figures, like the old imaginative traditions of 

 heathen Greece, but in homely, honest, historic truth — as a 

 brave good man who came among them in their old days of 

 darkness; instructed them, like a Father, in the pleasant ways 

 of light and gentleness and truth ; and taught them to lift up 

 their hearts towards a redeeming God. 



In such a prayer as this, my dear Sir, I know that you 

 will join me. Again asking your forgiveness for my long 

 delay, 



I remain, in all good-will, 



Very faithfully yours, 



ADAM SEDGWICK. 



To the Rev. William Monk, 

 Aubrey Villa, Cambridge. 



