will probably endure for a long period to come.* The Inquisition at Goa is still in operation, and has captives in its dungeon.†

A Protestant Establishment is wanted in our Empire in the East, not only to Do HONOUR to Christianity (for in many places in Hindostan the natives ask whether we have a God, and whether we worship in a Temple), but to counteract the influence of the ecclesiastical power of ROME: for in some provinces of Asia, that power is too strong for the religion of Protestants, and for the unprotected and defenceless missionaries.‡

But besides the tyranny of the Inquisition, there is in some of the Romish provinces a cor

* Since the delivery of this Discourse I have with pleasure observed, in the recent Treaty between his Majesty and the Prince Regent of Portugal, an article, by which that Prince engages that the Inquisition shall not hereafter be established in his South American dominions. Does not this afford a reasonable hope that we may ere long behold that engine of Superstition abolished in Portugal ?

↑ See Christian Researches.

The influence of the Romish Church in India is far greater than is generally imagined; or than our Government has hitherto had any means of ascertaining. Though the political power is almost extinct, the religious remains in its form vigour. And on this fact is founded a strong argument for the

policy

ruption of Christian doctrine which is scarcely credible. In certain places the rites and ceremonies of Moloch are blended with the worship of Christ.*

It is surely our duty to use the means we possess of introducing a purer christianity into

policy of promoting the Christian Instruction of our native subjects. "Although the Portuguese, for instance, possess " but little territory in continental India, yet their hold on the "native affections is incalculably stronger than that of Britain,

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though in the zenith of her political power; and were that power to be annihilated, as that of the Portuguese now is, it "would scarcely be known, in respect of any hold which "Britain has on the native mind, that she had ever set foot in "India."

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"This impolicy astonishes those who have acted with success on the opposite system. A Roman Catholic, high in spiritual authority in India, expressed his utter amazement "that the British Government should not act on a better policy and declared that, in consequence of the hold which "Christianity had obtained through the Roman Church on the "minds of the natives, there were SEVEN MILLIONS of British "subjects in India, with whose sentiments he had the means "of becoming perfectly acquainted, and over whose minds he "could exercise a cmmanding controul."

See Tenth Annual Report of " Society for Missions to Africa and the East," just published; containing the communications of SIR ALEXANDER JOHNSTONE, Chief Justice of Ceylon. p. 78.

* At Aughoor, near Trichinopoly, and in other places.

our Empire in the East. I shall mention one circumstance which may well animate our exertions. A large province of Romish Christians in the south of India, who are now our subjects, are willing to receive the Bible; and this too, under the countenance of the Romish bishop, an Italian, and a man of liberal learning. And Providence hath so ordered it, that a translation of the Scriptures hath been just prepared for them. This translation has been made by the Bishop of the Syrian Church. Yes, my brethren, a Bishop of the ancient Church of Christ in India, has translated the Holy Scriptures into a new language. That venerable man, who did not know, till lately, that there was a pure church in the Western world, is now pressing before many learned men in the West, in promoting the knowledge of the religion of Christ.†

We have now taken a review of three Eras of Light in the Christian dispensation. Do you require further evidence of this being a THIRD Era? Behold societies forming in every principal city of Great Britain for the purpose of giving

See Christian Researches.

+ Idem.

the BIBLE to all nations! Do you ask further proof? Behold the Christian church beginning, after a delay of eighteen centuries, to instruct the JEWS, and to attempt the conversion of the ancient people of God. Why did not the Church direct her attention sooner to this great undertaking? It was because the Era of Light had not arrived.

This learned body have it in their power greatly to promote the extension of Christianity among the Jews. Men have begun to preach the Gospel to that people without giving them the Gospel in their own language. A Translation of the New Testainent into the Hebrew tongue would be a gift worthy of our University to present to them. It must appear strange to us, on`a retrospect of the fact, that during so long a period, Christians should have reproached the Jews for not believing the New Testament, and yet never have put that volume into their hands in their own language, that they might know what they were to believe!* This conduct of Chris

* Translations of portions of the New Testament into different dialects of the Hebrew language have been made by different persons at different times; but these have been rather intended as exercises for the scholar, or for the use of the learned, than for the use of the Jews. The Romish Church

E

tians might be called an infatuation, were it not prophesied that THUS it should be. They did not think of giving the Gospel to a people of whom the Prophet had said," that they should "be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth "for their HURT, to be a reproach, and a proverb, "and a taunt, and a curse." Jer. xxiv. 9. But we can now "speak comfortably to Jerusalem, "and cry unto her that her WARFARE İS ACCOMis "PLISHED;" for it is prophesied again, "That "blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL "the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." Rom. xi. 25.-By this prophecy we see that the conversion of the Jews is connected with that of

printed a version of the Gospels in Hebrew, and the whole Syriac New Testament in the Hebrew character; but it would not give the book to that people who could read it. In Spain and Portugal they condemned the Jews to the flames, for professing Judaism, but they would not give them the New Testament that they might learn Christianity. The English Church, which has succeeded the Romish Church as first in influence and dignity, has not, as yet, given the New Testament to the Jews. The Church of Scotland has not given it. The chief praise is due to some of the Protestant divines in Universities on the Continent, who published some parts of the New Testament in what is called German Hebrew, and dispersed copies among the Jews, as they had opportunity. It is encouraging to know that even this partial attempt was not without success.