mitted Christian truths, the words of divine revelation. But the Chinese Missionary was sent to "a people of a strange speech, and of a hard language." An ancient and copious language, entirely unlike any other language under heaven. Even with the best assistance to acquire it, the Chinese language may be justly called "a hard language," and the then difficulty of obtaining assistance, rendered the acquisition of it more so. Natives in China are not allowed to teach it to foreigners, which makes it difficult to procure their aid, and when obtained, they know only their mother tongue, and for want of a medium of communicating their ideas to foreigners, they are ill qualified to teach. I would here remark, that a competent knowledge of some Asiatic languages is a more difficult task, and a more rare attainment, even amongst Missionaries, both Roman Catholic and Protestant, than is generally supposed. And Missionary Societies do not, perhaps, lay stress enough on furnishing the means for a speedy and extensive acquisition of foreign languages by their Missionaries. However,

By persevering labour and undivided attention, considerable progress was made in the Chinese language; and by many years' application and great expense,* books have been written and printed, which will render this "strange speech" more easy of acquisition to those who may hereafter be sent forth to teach the nations beyond the Ganges.

Out of China also, from under the influence of malicious informers, and a persecuting government, books and teachers are now provided at the Anglo-Chinese College, an institution originated for the furtherance of the Gospel, and to promote the temporal and spiritual well-being of the Chinese. By the aid of the lamented Milne, this institution was reared and tuition commenced; and by his help, as is well known, the whole of the canonical Scriptures were translated, and have been printed and sent forth to the

*The Hon. the East India Company expended £15,000 on printing Morrison's English and Chinese Dictionary.

and some

world. Oral instruction has been given to many, Christian Tracts have been written in Chinese, and extensively circulated. Several individuals have their minds much influenced by the truth, and one, to whom Milne was the means of conversion, is now left amongst his countrymen in China, as a teacher of Christianity, having, in his own tongue, the Bible alone, and we hope the Holy Spirit of God as his guide. This is a brief rehearsal of what God hath done by his servants in this case. Milne has been removed, we hope, to his eternal rest, but there are yet four or five labourers, who, since the Chinese Mission commenced, have entered and yet remain on the field.

It is now no longer a question, as it once was in England, whether the Chinese language be acquirable or not for religious purposes. We have now, in our own tongue, copious Chinese philological books, a Chinese Bible, a Chinese Christian College, and a converted native Chinese teacher; and should we not be thankful and be encouraged.

Pioneers, who make ways and approaches, are thought to hold a humble place in the army, in the republic of letters, and in the churches. The conqueror, the author of genius, and the dignified prelate or popular preacher, who enter into other men's labours, are those who appear to effect great things; the pioneer is forgotten. Missionaries who first enter pagan lands, are only pioneers. They may clear a little ground, make roads, plough and sow, (very necessary labours to be sure,) but the field is as yet unsightly. When the blade shoots up above ground, it is encouraging; but the husbandman must still exercise long patience, till the ear be formed, filled, and ripened—and the yellow waving harvest be gathered in. And ere this be effected, it may be that a part of the promised crop is blasted and lost. I fear the patience of British Christians will be tried, if not exhausted, before the fruits of the Chinese Mission exhibit any striking appearance. Some of the means which we

employ, (particularly the Anglo-Chinese College,*) are, I fear, not popular. And we are told we ought to preach more; that preaching is the great instrument of conversion; the divine command is, we are told, go and preach the Gospel to every creature.

To obviate this objection, and that the truth may appear, permit me to examine briefly this subject.

The modern sense of the word "preach," is to proclaim or publish in religious orations, or to address with earnestness and vehemence, and inculcate religious truths on a congregation, or an assembly of many persons. Now in our English Bible, when the word preach is used, it does not always mean what the modern use of the word implies. There are six different Greek words in the Acts of the Apostles that our English translators have rendered by the one word "preach," and if they had used six different English words, the word preach would not have stood so prominent. The

In St. Luke it is, When this term is

1st word, Knpvoow, means, "to proclaim as a public herald, or crier."-"What ye hear in the ear, preach ye upon the house tops." (Matt. x. 27.) "proclaim" ye upon the house tops. used, the very words of the proclamation are generally given. As (Matt. iii. 1.) John came preaching, or proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea-" Repent ye, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Another example is in Matt xxiv. 14. "This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached, or proclaimed, in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come."

Had this been the only term employed, the objection would have seemed to be conclusive, though not quite so, for a proclamation may be made in writing, as well as by

"A fixed residence had been formed at Siam for the French Missionaries, together with a Seminary for instructing the youth in the languages of the circumjacent nations, who had all settlements, or Camps, as they were called, at the capital." About A.D. 1663, (vide Mosheim, Vol. V. p. 16.)

I should like to know the subsequent fate of this seminary. + See Campbell on the Gospels, Vol. I.

the voice. Thus (Ezra i. 1.) Cyrus, king of Persia, made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it in writing. And (in Acts xv. 21.) it is said, Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him-but how ? by "being read in the synagogue every Sabbath-day." Thus you see reading the Scriptures is called preaching.

2d. The next word that our translators render preach is Evayyeλiw, “ To tell glad tidings or joyful news." (Acts v. 42.) "And daily in the temple and in every house, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus Christ." They taught the people many general truths of religion, and told them the good news concerning Jesus Christ. But this preaching was sometimes only conversation in a house, perhaps only with a single family, or only with some of the members of a family. When Philip was sitting in the Ethiopian's chariot, and conversing with him, (Acts xiii. 35.) it is said, Philip "preached unto him Jesus;" but one man speaking to another in a carriage, cannot, in the modern sense, be called "preaching." It should be read, Philip told him the good news concerning Jesus.

A 3d word, Karayyeλλw, means, "To declare plainly, or openly, an explicit statement of a truth; but this may be not a sermon, but a single sentence. In Romans i. 8. the word is translated "spoken of," instead of preached. "Thus I thank God your faith is spoken of, or talked about, throughout the whole world," not your faith is preached.

A 4th word, λaλew, means, "To speak, to tell, to announce, to report, to spread a report." It is sometimes rendered, "preaching" the word, and sometimes "speaking" the word. The disciples, who were scattered on the persecution which arose about. Stephen, went to Antioch, "preaching the word." A commentator,* who seems to think that ordinary disciples should not preach, remarks, that the original word here means only, speaking or talking about. And on the other hand, I have heard it rather objected to some Missionaries, that their discourses to the heathen were more like talking to them than preaching.

But both these remarks arise from too much stress on the modern use of the word preach. To preach the Gospel, is to tell about the Saviour, whether to an individual or to many, in a private house or in the temple-to spread the report, to talk about the good news sent from heaven to all people.

There are two more words translated preaching, viz.

διαλεγομαι,

The 5th word, diaλeyoua, which means, "To reason, to argue, to dispute." Acts xx. 7. "Paul preached unto them, or reasoned with them."-xxiv. 25, "Paul preached or reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come."-xviii. 19. "Paul entered into the synagogue, and preached, i. e. reasoned, or disputed with the Jews.

Lastly, the 6th word, wappnσiažoμa, which means, "To speak freely, plainly, boldly." Barnabas told the other Apostles how Saul had preached boldly, spoken freely and openly, at Damascus, in the name of the Lord Jesus.

These examples will, I hope, convince you that speaking to individuals, or families, or to students in a school or college, concerning the Lord Jesus, and telling the good news of salvation by him, as well as proclaiming to a multitude, either by the living voice or by written documents, the command of God, to repent and believe the Gospel ; are all, in the scriptural sense of that phrase, so many ways of preaching the Gospel.

Beside, the Saviour's last commission is thus expressed by St. Matthew, xxviii. 19, "Go ye, and disciple all nations, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." This teaching of disciples, is in the manner of a master teaching his pupils. An instructor who is attended by scholars from day to day, in the manner of the antient ambulatory schools which existed in almost every part of the world; in China, in Greece, and in Judea. If stress were to be laid on the phraseology, it would justify schools and colleges, where masters and pupils, teachers and scholars meet daily, rather than the desultory sermons, or earnest harangues of an itinerant missionary, probably addressed but once to the same people.

But I have no intention of setting up one means of