some other state DEVOID of Christianity; and it is to be lamented that some Christian writers have tried to draw the same picture. But Paganism in its best estate, is well described by one line of the Poet:

Monstrum, horrendum, informe; ingens cui LUMEN ademptum. VIRG.

No quarter of the globe promises to be more auspicious to Christian Missions than the Malayan Archipelago. In regard to the probable success of our endeavours, the Dutch have already shewn what is practicable. The natives åre of different casts, and are a divided people. The communication is easy from island to island; · our own ships are continually plying on their shores. The China fleet pass through twice or oftener every year; and with most of the islands we have intercourse by what is called in India, the country trade. And now there will be, of course, an English Government established in each of the conquered islands in lieu of the Dutch.

The Mahomedans found it easy to translate the Koran into the languages of Java, and of the Celebes; but the Sacred Scriptures are not yet translated into either of these languages. The proper language of Java is different from the Malay of the city of Batavia. The language

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of the Celebes is called the Bugis, or Bouguese.* The natives of Celebes are distinguished for their vigour of mind and strength of body; and are acknowledged to be the first of the Orang Timor, or Eastern men. Literature was formerly cultivated among them. Dr. Leyden enumerates fifty-three different volumes. "Their "songs," says he, "and romances, are famous among all the islands of the East." Their language extends to other islands, for they formerly carried their conquests beyond the Moluccas. The man who shall first translate the Bible into the language of the Celebes, will probably be read by as many islanders as have read the translation of Wickliffe. Let us consider how long these nations have waited for Christian instruction, and contemplate the words of the prophecy, "The isles shall wait for HIS "Law." Isa. xliii. 4.

The facilities for civilizing the Malayan isles are certainly very great; and these facilities. are our strongest encouragement to make the attempt. Both in our translation of the Scriptures and in missions to the heathen, we should avoid as much as possible what may be called enterprise. Let us follow the path that is easy

* Lord Minto notices in his speech to the College of FortWilliam, that Thos. Raffles, Esq. Secretary to the Government in Prince of Wales's Island, is employed in compiling a code of Malay laws, in the Malay and Bougese Languages.

and secure, and make use of those means which are already afforded to us by Providence. Thus the most valuable and important translation of the Scriptures, will be that for which a people are already prepared, such as the Malayalim, the Cingalese, and Malay. And the most ju diciously planned Missions will be those where there is a prospect of personal security to the teachers, and (judging from human probability) the greatest facilities for the conversion of the people.

THE SYRIAN CHRISTIANS IN INDIA.

THE Syrian Christians inhabit the interior of Travancore and Malabar, in the South of India; and have been settled there from the early ages of Christianity. The first notices of this ancient people in recent times are to be found in the Portuguese histories. When Vasco de Gama arrived at Cochin on the coast of Malabar, in the year 1503, he saw the sceptre of the Christian King; for the Syrian Christians had formerly regal power in Malay-Ala.*

Malay-ala is the proper name for the whole country of Travancore and Malabar, comprehending the territory be

The name or title of their last King was Beliarte; and he dying without issue, the dominion devolved on the King of Cochin and Diamper.

When the Portuguese arrived, they were agreeably surprised to find upwards of a hundred Christian Churches on the coast of Malabar. But when they became acquainted with the purity and simplicity of their worship, they were offended. "These Churches," said the Portuguese," belong to the Pope." "Who "is the Pope?" said the natives, "we never "heard of him." The European priests were yet more alarmed, when they found that these Hindoo Christians maintained the order and discipline of a regular Church under Episcopal Jurisdiction: and that, for 1300 years past, they had enjoyed a succession of Bishops appointed by the Patriarch of Antioch. " We," said they," are of the true faith, whatever you "from the West may be; for we come from "the place where the followers of Christ werc "first called Christians."

When the power of the Portuguese became sufficient for their purpose, they invaded these tranquil Churches, seized some of the Clergy,

tween the mountains and the sea, from Cape Cormorin to Cape Illi or Dilly. The language of these extensive regions is called Malayalim, and sometimes Malabar. We shall use the word Malabar, as being of easier pronunciation.

and devoted them to the death of heretics. Then the inhabitants beard for the first time that there was a place called the Inquisition; and that its fires had been lately lighted at Goa, near their own land. But the Portuguese, finding that the people were resolute in defending their ancient faith, began to try more conciliatory measures. They seized the Syrian Bishop, Mar Joseph, and sent him prisoner tof Lisbon, and then convened a Synod at one o the Syrian Churches called Diamper, near Cochin, at which the Romish Archbishop Menezes presided. At this compulsory Synod, 150 of the Syrian Clergy appeared. They were accused of the following practices and opinions, That they had married wives; that "they owned but two Sacraments, Baptism "and the Lord's Supper; that they neither

invoked Saints, nor worshipped Images, nor "believed in Purgatory: and that they had "no other orders or names of dignity in the "Church, than Bishop, Priest, and Deacon." These tenets they were called on to abjure, or to suffer suspension from all Church benefices. It was also decreed that all the Syrian books on Ecclesiastical subjects that could be found, should be burned; " in order," said the Inquisitors," that no pretended apostolical mo"numents may remain."

The Churches on the sea-coast were thus

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