that the power of Superstition which had so long enslaved the world, would at last be broken by the strong arm of Infidelity. And we have just seen this "strong arm" give the last blow to the temporal power of Rome. This loosens her hold upon remote nations. Now then the fulness of time for enlightening the Gentiles seems to be come, for the obstructions are nearly removed, and the means are granted. And no sooner are the means granted, than the DESIRE is given; and thus, in every age, the great designs of the Almighty are executed by the Sons of men.

But let us now inquire by wнOM it is that the Light of Christianity is diffused throughout the heathen world? To whom has been assigned the honor of leading the way in this undertaking?

Our own Church acknowledged the object a hundred years ago, and LED THE WAY. Two Societies were incorporated for the purpose by the Royal sanction; and Letters were written by the KING of Great Britain and by the Archbishop of Canterbury to the humble Missionaries in the East, to animate, strengthen, and encourage them in their important work.*

* See Letters in Christian Researches.

These Societies still exist, and prosecute the primary objects of their institution. A mission in India has been supported by "the Society for "promoting Christian knowledge" with eminent success; for it was under its patronage that the apostolic SWARTZ preached the Gospel to men of "different tongues, kindreds, and nations."

But it is evident that, at the present time, missions are conducted to a greater extent by other societies than by our own. When the Gospel was first preached to the heathen, our Saviour gave the commission to INDIVIDUALS; that is, they were not associated by any power of temporal empire. And it would appear as if it were to be promulgated to the Gentiles a second time, by the same means. But this is a subject which will occupy the serious attention of our Church.

The Church of Rome certainly considered it to be HER duty, as the Church of Christ," to "teach all nations." Now it has been so ordered that the Church of England should possess at this time a greater facility of access to the remotest nations, than Rome ever had in the plenitude of her power. While therefore we contemplate with a benignant eye the laudable exertions of the subordinate societies, it would well accord with the dignity and character of

the Church of England, to RESUME the lead in this work; and, standing as she does like a Pharos among the nations, to be herself the Great Instrument of Light to the world.*

Let this nation understand the voice of that Providence which hathexalted her to such a height in the view of mankind. It saith in the words of the text, "LET THERE BE LIGHT."-But when we speak of the nation, we mean the CHURCH; and the Voice of the Church is to be heard at the UNIVERSITIES. Is not this the University that gives the light of SCIENCE to the world? Let it also give the light of Religion. We are proud to acknowledge that this Seat of Learning hath already begun to diffuse the truth of Revelation in the heathen world. Some of its members have already gone forth to the East. Men of your own body, who had acquired the very highest honors in science, are now in that country engaged in translating the Scriptures into the Oriental languages. And it would give new ardor to their undertaking, to know that it meets with your countenance and approbation.

But it will be proper to give some account of the DARKNESS which exists in heathen lands,

* "Ye shine as Lights of the world, HOLDING FORTH the word of Life." Phil. ii. 16.

that our nation may feel it her duty to send forth the Light. For it has been asserted by some that there is No darkness; at least among the idolaters of India; and passages are quoted from their ancient poetry to prove that their morals are sublime and pure. It would however appear from passages in the Holy Scriptures, that the nations addicted to Idolatry are not only involved in darkness and error, but live in the commission of turpitude and crime. In the Old Testament it is stated, that "the dark places of "the earth are full of the habitations of

cruelty;"* and that "even their sons and "their daughters they burn in the fire to "MOLOCH;" and it marks the prevailing characters of Idolatry to be these two, Cruelty and Impurity. In the New Testament the same characters are assigned to it; and are exemplified in the state both of the Greeks and Romans; of the Greeks in the fourth chapter to the Ephesians; and of the Romans in the first

* Psalm lxxiv. 20.

↑ Deut. xii. 31.

St. Paul writes to the Greeks at Ephesus in these words : "I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth "walk not as OTHER Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened: who being PAST PEELING, have given themselves over unto laciviousness, to "work all uncleanness with greediness." Eph. iv. 19.

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chapter of the Epistle which is addressed to them; and this too in the period of their learning and civilization.

If, then, turpitude and crime marked the ido latry of the enlightened states of GREECE and ROME, how much more may we expect to find them among the ignorant and idolatrous nations of the present day? I resided many years in the heathen world, and was satisfied, by casual observation, that the character of their idolatry corresponded with that which is given in the Scriptures. I resolved, however, to visit the chief seat of the Hindoo religion, in order to examine the nature of that Superstition which held so many millions in its chain. For this purpose I made a journey to the Great Temple of JUGGERNAUT, in the province of Orissa, which · is to the Hindoos (what Mecca is to the Mahomedans,) the strong hold and fountain-head of their idolatry. I chose that season of the year when there is the celebration of the great annual festival called the RUTT JATTRA.

On our entering the province of Orissa, we were joined by many thousands of pilgrims, who were proceeding to the Festival. Some of these come from remote regions, with their wives and children, travelling slowly in the hottest season of the year, and are sometimes upwards