reference to the phoenix contained in that epistle, as is made by him of the reference to the Sibyl found in Clemens Alexandrinus; yet inasmuch as the Epistle of Clemens Romanus is not calculated to alarm so much any of Daillé's prejudices or those of his persuasion, he suffers this peccadillo of his author to escape scotfree, and accounts it, apparently, no matter of charge, that Clemens should give his sanction to this primitive document.'

But the crowning instance relates to Ignatius.

'We may the more freely draw this inference (our author proceeds) from the turn his argument now takes against another primitive author, who would, of all others, be the most natural object of his aversion, as being the most opposed to all his ecclesiastical notions, Ignatius. His attack upon this Father is made with all the dexterity of a polemic. He endeavours to excite an evil impression of the genuineness of the Letters in the first instance, by devolving upon them the suspicion attached to all antiquity whatever, which he had excited in the minds of his readers by an accumulation of the examples it supplies (many of those which he names very farfetched) of fiction or fraud. Having created, therefore, this prejudice against the Epistles of Ignatius in limine, as he might against any ancient document whatever, and given them a bad name, he feels the way paved for the introduction of a specific objection, founded on the silence of the ancients with respect to them; confessing indeed (for he will be candid), that it is possible for one, or even many, Fathers to be ignorant of a previous writer; or, knowing him, through inadvertence or design to make no mention of him; but still contending that, if a grave and learned author was altogether silent respecting the writings of one who was prior to him in date, when there was good reason for his not being silent about them, when those writings were celebrated either on account of the name of the writer or the subject of his argument, the probability is, that no such writings were then in existence. He then applies this reasoning to the case of Ignatius, and maintains, that had the Epistles of which Eusebius speaks been extant in the time of Irenæus, he must have known of them; and treating, as he did, of the Godhead of the Creator, and the verity of Christ the Son, he would have produced out of them evidence against the heretics; as he actually does make use of Clemens' Epistle to the Corinthians, and Polycarp's to the Philippians; whereas he never mentions these at all. Neither would these Epistles, if they had been genuine, have escaped the notice of Clemens Alexandrinus, who frequently quotes even aprocryphal books, nor of Tertullian ; neither of whom speak of them.'

Now, will it be believed, that the man who could thus heartlessly seek to filch away Daille's fair fame, has been guilty of a suppression in relation to Ignatius, of any allusion in these lectures to the most memorable and important of the literary discoveries of our time,—we mean, the bringing to light of the long lost Syriac copy of his famous Epistles? Dr. Cureton's first publication of that version issued in the very year at the close of which this course was delivered. Is it possible that it could have remained unknown to a professed Patristic scholar, actually preparing to lecture on the Early Fathers, in the Divinity Schools of Cambridge? Moreover, Professor Blunt made additions to his manuscript up to the time of his decease, and a work, 'Brown on the Articles,' is quoted at p. 6; which did not appear till 1850, whilst, on the other hand, in the second course, contained in the volume before us, which was delivered in the October of 1846, a year after the first, the Syriac Ignatius is mentioned. Hence, there can be no doubt about the curious fact, that an early copy of Dr. Cureton's Syriac Ignatius-cashiering as it does four out of the seven Epistles, and so reducing the rest as to render it demonstrable that

Ignatius has been interpolated wholesale, and that, too, for the very purpose of foisting prelacy upon the Church-was in the Margaret Professor's hands quite in time to be referred to, at least in the first repetition of the course against Daillé. Yet the posthumous volume appears, and the dead silence is significantly maintained, whilst the infamous inuendos against Daillé, whose critical sagacity, as well as his honesty, has been vindicated in so marvellous a manner, have been allowed to remain uncancelled. We could not dismiss the present course of Lectures, without thus branding, with the reprobation it so richly deserves, this abominable piece of impudent injustice. In noticing the second course, as we hope shortly to do, we shall have more to say about Ignatius, and the way in which Professor Blunt slurs over the new evidence which has so unexpectedly but opportunely turned up, as to the extent to which that Father's writings were tampered with in the ancient Church.

Record of Christian Missions.

THE most interesting paper in connexion with missionary operations which we find in the journals of this month, is devoted to the present condition of Christian missions in China. It appears in the North China Herald' of September 5th. The writer-apparently one of the Church missionaries in China-has taken occasion, from the fiftieth anniversary of the introduction of Christianity in that country, to give a very complete and comprehensive summary of the history of the missions. In the pages of the Christian Spectator,' the account may seem rather long; but it is so full and exact, and it illustrates so vividly the power and progress of the gospel, that our readers, we think, will be glad to have it laid before them in full.

The whole number of labourers,' says the historian, 'sent by Protestant churches is now about four hundred. Of these, nearly one-half have been ordained ministers of the gospel; a few have come out as medical missionaries or secular agents; the others have been either the wives of the missionaries, or unmarried ladies, nearly all of whom, both the married and unmarried, have engaged directly in the work of education or other missionary duties.

'Coming as these have from twenty and more different boards or associations, Protestant Christians of almost every denomination, and in nearly every part of Christendom, have here their representatives; consequently, a very large amount of personal interest is concentrated on this field of labour, in magnitude second to no other on earth, whether regard be had to the work to be performed, the numbers to be acted upon, or the good results certain to follow in due time.

The increase in the numbers of labourers has been very gradual. During the first ten years they were but four, counting only the men; in the second, fifteen; in the third, thirty-nine; in the fourth, one hundred and five; while during the last decade of years, the numbers have nearly or quite doubled.

At present, in Shanghae, there are two-and-twenty ordained missionaries, three missionary physicians, and one lay agent; also four unmarried and sixteen married ladies, with five-and-twenty children; or say, seventy-one in all.

'Means are not at hand for giving more than an approximation to the exact numbers now at the other stations.

'At Ningpo, say sixteen ordained missionaries, seventeen ladies, and twenty-six children.

'At Fuh-chau, seven missionaries, three ladies, and ten children.

'At Amoy, eight missionaries, six ladies, and thirteen children.

'At Hong Kong and Macao-there being none at present in Canton-say twenty-two missionaries, eighteen ladies, and twenty children.

'Besides these-237, more or less-there are several families and others now absent from China, yet still in connexion with the missions here, and expecting ere long to return to their respective stations.

'The labours performed, from first to last, have been so various and in such diverse circumstances, that, for the most part, none but general estimates can be set down at all. The acquisition of this language in its numerous forms and dialects, and the preparation of linguistic apparatus to aid therein; the daily labours of oral preaching in churches and chapels, in temples and on the highways, in their own residences and from house to house, in tours on land and while in junks or boats on the rivers; often to solitary individuals, occasionally to vast congregations, but most frequently to small audiences of a few tens; the translation of the sixty-and-six books of the Old and New Testaments into the general language, and parts thereof into several of the dialects, together with printing of the same and the getting ready the material means for that purpose; the preparation of Christian tracts, and the distribution of these and of the sacred Scriptures; also the establishment of boarding-schools and day-schools, with the writing of books for the same; the organizing of Bible classes and meetings of inquiry; the conducting of catechetical services and the examination of candidates for Christian baptism; watching over infant churches, instructing the ignorant, and striving to reclaim the wanderers; visiting the sick and the blind, and distributing medicine and alms to those in need; likewise, collecting and publishing various information, and the preparation of journals and letters, for public bodies and private friends;-all these, and other such like things, make up the catalogue of labours which, during the days and nights of the last fifty years, have given ample occupation to the hands and the heads of all these four hundred men and women, who have entered on this wide field.

These labours, taking them all in all, have been very abundant, well directed, and are not wanting in good and great results. It should be borne in mind that many of the labourers have but recently entered on their work, and that it is still rather the seed-time than the harvest. In the essentials of Christianity—its cardinal doctrines and facts, a large amount of instruction has been communicated to the Chinese. In such a field as this, where the term of service is so short, the labourers cannot expect to see but a part, and often it must be only a small part, of the legitimate good fruits of their work. Enough, however, they can see to

*In one of the missions at Amoy-that of the London Missionary Society-there were baptized, during the last ten years, 182 adults, and about the same number in the mission of the American Board. In other missions, and at other places, the numbers professing Christianity have been much less; in some of the missions, however, there have been more additions to the churches during the last eighteen months than in all the previous years of their history.

call forth abundant thanksgiving for the past, and to inspire courage and hope for the future, knowing that the work, in which they are only co-labourers, is of no doubtful issue.

'Among those who have come to China under the auspices of the Protestant churches, for Christ's sake and his gospel, there are many worthy and noble examples—both men and women-of zeal and labour, faith and patience. Not to mention the living, such were Robert Morrison and William Milne, Samuel Dyer and David Abel, Edwin Stevens, Pohlman, Goddard, Lowrie, and W. H. Medhurst. These, and others whose names are less known abroad, have done much excellent work, the fruits of which will doubtless, by divine grace, make many souls happy and blessed for ever.

The present prospects-and the signs of the times too-when compared with what met the lonely adventurer on these shores half a century ago, how very different!

In coming to China, that zealous and heroic man realized what, as now appears, had been the earnest prayer of his youth-"that God would direct him to that part of the missionary field where the difficulties were the greatest, and to all human appearance the most insurmountable." Then, not only did an exclusive native policy restrict all intercourse with foreigners to one narrow spot, and to one small company of monopolists; but his own Government, also, was so afraid of giving umbrage to the Chinese, that Morrison found it necessary to cross the Atlantic, and to come to Canton in a vessel not carrying English colours. And on his arrival there, for a season, he was watched with a jealous eye, and even by those who, not long subsequently, were eager to secure the benefit of his services in the advancement of their "Honourable Trade."

For more than twenty years afterwards, he laboured almost alone the only Protestant missionary in this empire. Milne came to Macao, but was forced away; and, as others who followed him, he found a residence at the "Straits." To preach the doctrine of Christ, or to profess and practise his religion, was then, by the penal code of the Great Pure Dynasty, declared to be a capital crime. Then, too, by common law, or the " old customs" of this realm, all the foreigners in Canton, regarded as merchants, and "so booked," were required, after the business of a season was over, in spring, to retire from the city of Rams, and migrate to Macao. By special permission, said merchants were permitted to bring their families to reside within the jurisdiction of the Portuguese settlement; but no "barbarian woman" could be allowed to approach even the suburbs of the provincial capital. For attempting such a monstrous act, on one occasion, all commerce was stopped, and the whole Imperial cabinet and dragon-throne together were moved for the immediate expulsion of the two or three fair intruders.

'Such was the state of affairs in 1830, those palmy days of monopolies and Cohongs. Four years later, the exclusive rights in China of the Hon. East India Company terminated. The Royal commission, under Lord Napier, arrived in July, 1834. Denied an audience with the Governor at Canton in the first place, the generous nobleman, unwilling in any way to compromise the honour or the rights due to foreigners, and harassed and constrained, retired to Macao, where shortly afterwards, on the 11th of October, he expired.

'A few weeks previously-August 1st, 1854-Dr. Morrison had died at Canton, leaving there, in the missionary work, only two persons, who, for three or four

years, had been his co-labourers in the dissemination of Biblical truth, chiefly by means of the press and the agency of one native evangelist.

Early in 1839 came the imprisonment of all the foreigners in Canton, and the surrender of the twenty thousand and odd chests of opium; next came, on three successive years, armed expeditions, and the signing of the English treaty before Nanking, on the 29th of August, 1842; and finally, two years later, the Act of Toleration, given by the vermilion pencil, dated Taukwang, 24th year, 11th month, 19th day, or December 28th, 1844.

:

'Thus,' continues the writer, by a wonderful and mysterious Providenee, wide and effectual doors have been opened for Protestant missionaries. As yet their work is but begun to it, however, they are fairly committed. By Him, who holds all power, both in heaven and on earth, the disciples of the Lord Jesus are commissioned to give the bread of life-the word of God-to all people. This high warrant, in God's own good time, will most assuredly be fully executed; and as the years roll on, during the next coming half century, his truth, if we rightly read the promises, will make achievements, bright and glorious beyond any thing witnessed by his people on earth since the days of the apostles and primitive martyrs. China can be no exception.'

Only lately we called attention to the gratifying circumstance, that Sir John Bowring's (we can scarcely dignify it by the name of the Chinese) war had not in the smallest degree hindered the progress of the missionaries. In continuation of our former narrative, and by way of illustrating the present prospects of Christianity, we now add one or two quotations from recent correspondence. Writing from Shanghae, Mr. Wylie, of the London Missionary Society, who had recently made an excursion up the Yellow River, says:- Ten years since, a visit to Kwanshan was considered a hazardous undertaking; now, foreigners are no rariety there. After the heat of the day, I walked through part of the city, and gave away a number of Christian books, which were very readily received, though by no means so greedily caught at as in some other cities. A large number of the people have ~ knowledge of our religion. A few hours brought us within the suburbs of Soochow, which city has also added a few to the numbers of our church in Shanghae; and, from the reports of the Bible Society's colporteur, Wang Chuh-seng, who has lately visited it several times, there is an advancing spirit of inquiry, and a desire to become more perfectly acquainted with our doctrine.'

Further on he adds:-'Besides Kwan-san, I have mentioned six walled cities, all of which I entered on my return, and walked about them with great freedom; and although frequently betrayed by my foreign features, I did not once hear the offensive epithet applied to me north of the Yang-tsze, nor of any symptom of disapprobation at my presence. The small stock of books I endeavoured to make the most of, distributing them as favours to particular parties, and in many iustances they were doubtless appreciated. Although the similarity of our books to the rebel publications was readily observed, yet that did not prove any bar to their reception, nor did it at all excite suspicion; indeed, none were more eager to obtain them than officers and soldiers in the imperial service.'

And in another place:-'I always announced myself as an Englishman, and stated clearly the object of my trip, and never did I hear any token of disapprobation. On the other hand, several of them seemed much interested on the occasion, and had evidently the desire that such visits should be repeated. I received marked