chap. vi. CLAIMS OF THE CHRISTIANS TO SYMPATHY. 
] 69 
present rulers of those nations; the converts to Christianity 
are therefore regarded as guilty of the double crime of apos¬ 
tasy and treason. And to persuade their countrymen to be¬ 
lieve in the Lord Jesus, to obey His word, or to love Him, is 
regarded as alienating the confidence and affection of the 
people from their lawful rulers and transferring them to the 
ancestors of the rulers of foreigners. Many of the people 
are probably too much enlightened to believe that their early 
ancestors were anything more than men, but others believe 
what the supporters of idolatry teach, and use the popular 
delusion as a ground of impeachment against the Christians. 
The immediate future of Madagascar is known only to the 
Almighty, whose attribute it is to behold the end from the 
beginning. But whatever that future may be, there is in the 
past much, very much, to ponder over most profoundly, much 
also to enkindle earnest and hearty desires that a happier 
day may soon dawn upon that important country and its 
deeply interesting inhabitants, and that the minds of the 
rulers may be enlightened to see that Protestant Christianity 
affords the surest foundation for the greatness and glory of 
sovereigns as well as for the prosperity, loyalty, and happiness 
of nations. 
