The probability now is, that Greece will suffer no more from the despotic authority of the Turk. She is to assume rank among the nations, and to be acknowledged as possessing rights, which for centuries have been denied. Her cruel oppressor has recently been humbled by the power of Russia. The crescent-his national ensign, has long been waning; and it may soon be utterly eclipsed. That will be a glad day, not only to the Greek, but to the whole civilized world, when the politico-religious abominations of Mahometanism, shall be washed out from the soil of Europe. And a still more joyful period will it be, when they shall be thoroughly removed from the soil of the whole earth, and be succeeded by the religion of Him who is the true Prophet and the Son of God.

To the Christian, Greece now presents a field of inviting interest. Almost every spot is hallowed by recollections of a loftier and purer character than any which arrest the attention of the merely classic admirer. As we perused the soul-stirring "Sketch" before us, the names of places were often recurring, which brought up afresh a series of associations from the narratives and letters of the New Testament. When we read of the bloody scenes transacted on the beautiful island, Scio, we thought of Chios, over against which Luke and his companions came, the next day after taking in Paul at Assos. And when the historian alluded to Athens, we were reminded of the altar with this inscription, "To the unknown God," and of the eloquent discourse of the Apostle, upon the hill of Mars. Corinth was the city where Christ had "much people," where a flourishing church existed, and afterwards becoming corrupt, was rebuked by the faithful Paul. Macedonia was the same country, whose angel implored, and still implores, "Come over and help us." Saloniki reminded us of Thessalonica, whence "sounded out the word of the Lord," to bless the adjacent regions. It was in Achaia, that Paul, "mightily convinced the Jews, publicly showing by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ." Dear as were these and various other places from the recollections of classic story, still they were incomparably dearer in consequence of their connexion with Christian history and Christian truth.

The soil of Greece was early trodden by the heralds of Christianity, and among its population immense numbers became the followers of Jesus of Nazareth. In no part of the world were the labors of Paul, and Timothy, and Titus, and their fellow servants, more extensively blessed. There the Christian religion obtained effectual root, and it has never since been wholly exterminated. Disfigured, indeed, and degraded by superstition and folly, it has lost much of its purity and beauty, but its form remains, and has had an incalculable amount of influence upon the people in the prosecution of their revolutionary enterprise. The cross has been their banner, and although little affected by the truths which it represents, yet in the warmth of their veneration for the cross, as a national emblem, they have stood by it in times of peril, choosing rather to be hewn in pieces around it by scimitars and yataghans,

than prove recreant to their vows, and suffer it to be supplanted by the polluted crescent.

It is painful to reflect that such multitudes of Greeks have been so inhumanly slaughtered, and their deathless spirits sent beyond the reach of evangelical effort. But two millions still survive, and the events of Providence concur in distinctly suggesting that they survive for purposes connected with the advancement of Christian truth and holiness. The affairs of Greece, external and internal, civil, intellectual and religious, have assumed an attitude which strongly indicates the duty of the Christian Church. If it be true that "the opportunity and the ability to do good, create obligation to do good," then is the obligation of American Christians, in respect to Greece, most clearly established. If it be true that "to him who knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, it is sin;" then is it certain that American Baptists must speedily do something for the spiritual revolution of Greece, or a vast amount of guilt will be accumulated at our door.

The opportunity is now as good as can be desired. The horrors of war have entirely ceased-the forces of the enemy are all withdrawn-the Sultan has relinquished all claim to Greece, and has recognised her independence-internal feuds have mostly subsided, and the people will doubtless enjoy a mild and liberal government. The present chief magistrate, Count Capo d' Istria, is represented as an intelligent and prudent ruler, the friend of liberty, the encourager of the arts and sciences, and as possessing, in a remarkable degree, the confidence of the people. Whatever modifications the Allied Powers may see fit to make of the present form of Government, and whomsoever they may designate as the future ruler of Greece, it cannot be that she will ever again be subjected to the crushing influence of despotism. She must be placed in a condition where the improvement which has so happily commenced may be permitted to advance. Perhaps the greatest evil to be apprehended in the system of government which she is to receive, is the establishment of a national religion. In order to prevent such a disastrous result, it is desirable that speedy efforts be made to enlighten the people of Greece upon the subject, and to create in their minds such a knowledge of the blessings of . religious as well as civil liberty, as will prepare them judiciously and firmly to resist every proposition for such an encroachment upon their rights. To save them from such a soul-withering calamity, no prudent means should be spared.

The population of Greece, though much degraded, and exceedingly ignorant, and too meanly subservient to their priests,―a vile race, yet are not so bigoted as the Catholics-not so inaccessible to the light of truth, nor so bitterly prejudiced against Protestants. They are anxious for the establishment of schools and seminaries of learning, and wish to promote a general system of education. The President has given liberty to foreigners to open schools for the instruction of the youth, and also to distribute the Scriptures and religious books to any practicable extent. The Bible is reDEC. 1829.

54

ceived and read with avidity-tracts are earnestly solicited, and religious instruction is heard with attentiveness and favor. In a word, Greece Proper, and the neighboring islands, now present an open field for the efforts of philanthropy. And the appeal comes forcibly addressed to Christians on this side of the Atlantic, to furnish them with religious teachers, and with the word of God. This appeal is heard, and at least two denominations of Christians have now their agents on the ground, reconnoitering its condition, its necessities, and its prospects. It is high time that other portions of the " sacramental host" were engaged in the same enterprise. Greece is a common field, and its effectual cultivation requires a common effort—an energetic effort that shall include the sympathies, and prayers, and resources of all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.

A glance at the map of the eastern hemisphere will convince any individual, that although the territory of Greece is small, yet its location gives it an importance surpassed by no spot of the same magnitude on the surface of the globe. It holds a kind of central position between Europe, Asia, and Africa, and if only purified, it could easily distribute the waters of salvation extensively over those three great portions of the earth. When Churches are once established in Greece, such as flourished there in the days of Paul, how easily might the word of the Lord sound out from them to the limits of the continent. Greece holds a position most favorable for the establishment of a mighty depository, from which might be issued Bibles and Tracts, accompanied by faithful Missionaries, to enlighten and bless the Catholic, the Greek Church, the Mahometan and the Pagan. With them all the intercourse might thus be rendered easy and frequent.

And no one can question that the period for the vigorous commencement of the enterprise which shall look to such a result, has arrived. The Providence of God is distinctly saying, “Behold NOW is the accepted time." If Christians would do something for the intellectual and spiritual elevation of Greece, and thus disenthral and save two millions of a noble race, let them now put forth their energies, and lift their united cry to God. If, in addition to this, they would acquire the possession of a field which promises such incomparable advantages for the success of future effort, let them now commence the work of acquisition. No time is to be lost; and if the present opportunity is not embraced, generations of sinners may pass off to the retributions of eternity, before another such will be offered.

Touching the question of ability to effectuate the objects here contemplated, we need only refer to the immense and increasing umbers of the Baptist Denomination in the United States, and it is decided. In the great work of causing the gospel to be preached "to every creature," we have done comparatively nothing. We are amply able, and it is our duty before God, to do annually, one hundred times the amount of what we are now doing. If, with the little which has been contributed, so much has been accomplished in the Burman Empire, what stupendous results might we antici

pate if we were to supply the funds which our circumstances might justify, and which the necessities of Burmah and of other countries actually demand. Multitudes of our brethren, and of whole. Churches, do nothing. What is furnished, is contributed by a very few.

It is time that we awake to our duty-awake to the appeals of dying millions-awake to the claims of Him who was nailed to the cross. Let the Board of the General Convention despatch some competent person to Greece to survey the ground, and ascertain the most favorable points at which to commence operations. Let his expenses be defrayed by special contributions for the purpose. Let some of our pious and intelligent young men prepare to enter without delay, upon the work of teaching and preaching among the Greeks; and let an effort be made so to multiply the funds of the Board, that they may be able to proceed to the execution of measures which shall look not only to the intellectual and religious improvement of Greece, but to the salvation of the benighted millions who inhabit the regions beyond. We fondly hope to witness the period when our ministers in Greece shall inform us of their "first fruits" in Achaia-of the baptism of households at Corinth and Philippi-of the general spread of the gospel in that land of ancient and modern wonder. And dying, we hope to rejoice in the assurance that our own brethren have done their proportion in contributing to this desirable result.

THE MOTHER.

To the eye of a Mother the fountain of mind,

In the babe whose fond arms round her bosom are wreathed,

Is unsealed, while its depths are yet clearly defined,

Ere a channel is chosen or murmur is breathed.

In the field which it waters, affection's soft vale,

A privileged laborer she may be found,

Ere the dews of the morning begin to exhale,

Or the rank weeds of vice have infested the ground,

She breaks up a soil, where the poisonous root
Of error has never inwoven its snare-
Where no sharp thorns of prejudice rigidly shoot-
And plants the rich germs of eternity there.

Not prayerless, not tearless, she goes to her toil,
By turns, hope and fear in her bosom will move,
For each seed that she drops in that delicate soil,
She feels should be such as all Heaven can approve.
Exeter, N. H.

NOTICES OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

AMONG the recent publications to which we have been particularly desirous of calling the attention of our readers, are the following.

1. Obligations of Christians to the Heathen; a Sermon preached before the General Convention of the Baptist

NEWTON.

Denomination in the United States, at
Philadelphia, April 29, 1829. By Dan-
iel Sharp, Pastor of the Charles-Street
Baptist Church, Boston.

2. The Moral Responsibility of Civ. il Rulers; a Sermon, addressed to the Legislature of the State of Connecticut,

Church Government in the said Seminary. 12mo. pp. 423.

7. Mental Discipline; or Hints on the cultivation of Intellectual and Moral Habits; addressed particularly to Students in Theology and young By Henry Forster BurPreachers. der, M. A. 12mo. pp. 126.

Both of these works ought to be in the hands of every minister of the gospel, and of every candidate for the ministry.

8. Elements of Mental and Moral Science; designed to exhibit the Original Susceptibilities of the Mind, and the Rule by which the Rectitude of any of its States or Feelings should be judged. By George Payne, A. M. 8vo. pp. From the English Edition. New-York: J. Leavitt. Boston: Crocker & Brewster, 1829.

EDITORS' ADIEU.

HAVING resigned the trust committed to us as editors of this Magazine, we now take leave of our readers, with fervent prayers for their present and their eternal welfare.