and viewing it chiefly as a means of personal power and gain, disgraced it by ignorance, charlatanry, and imposture." The men to whom we look lay claim to no exclusive privileges, and seek no gain or power, save the power to do good and the gain of souls. 3. God's blessing could not rest on the unholy alliance, through which the Council of Tours were, in very shame, compelled to break, in the 12th century. From the alliance we seek-with all reverence be it spoken-how can He withhold His blessing?-an alliance which, resting on His promised aid, in simple faith seeks only His glory, the doing of His work, and the advance of the Redeemer's kingdom. 4. We advocate no permanent or general conjunction of Medicine and Divinity-as was attempted in the ancient period of conjunction and decline; but only that occasionally Medicine shall become the graceful handmaid of Religion, and assist in winning souls; that but a comparatively small number of devoted men shall go forth from the Medical to the Missionary field, while the main body still continue, in their peculiar vocation, to advance and elevate the healing art. We as little dream of superseding Medicine by Divinity, as of supplanting Divinity by Medicine. As professions,

1 Article "Surgery," in Encyclopædia Britannica, last edition.

they are distinct; but, in some cases and certain circumstances, who can doubt that they can be blended with advantage, reflecting on each other a new and more brilliant lustre ?

And, besides all this, let it not be forgotten, that to obtain the end of Medical Missions, it is not in all cases essential that the Medical man should be himself the Evangelist. The professions may be distinct in representation while one in operation; the professed Evangelist and the professed Physician or Surgeon working together—in different callings, but, at the same time, in the same spirit, and towards the same end.

If it be objected, on the other hand, that the Gospel is lowered, and in danger of being tarnished, by association so intimate and so secular, again we appeal to the example of our Saviour, who knew that the wondering crowds who followed Him to the mountain and the wilderness, and listened to His teaching there, did not come solely, or so much, to hear and learn, as to be fed and to be cured of infirmity and disease. And yet He neither rebuked them nor sent them away. He conferred the favour they sought; and when thereby they were softened and subdued-"when all were under the full glow of grateful feeling and raised expectation, He poured out those gracious words which extorted from the

stoutest adversaries the memorable confession'Never man spake like this man.'"1

We know that "the Word" is the great instrument for the soul's salvation; and our argument does not aver that Medicine is to assist the Word in that mighty undertaking. She seeks but to be instrumental in opening a way for that Word to do its own work; not to afford help, as if it were too feeble alone for we know it to be "quick and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword."

But, departing from theory, we are thankful to say that we can point to the actual success of Medical Missions in recent years-the best of all arguments in favour of their efficiency. It is not the untried experiment of yesterday of which we speak. At this time there are about forty Medical Missionaries labouring în various fields. In Syria, whence the system first sprung; scattered through all Asia; in Polynesia; in Africa; among the savage tribes of America. In God's providence, they seem to have found wide doors specially opened for their entrance. As Medical men, they have found "access to communities and families in heathen lands, where the mere evangelist is not permitted to enter."2

"He

1 See Appendix, H.

2 Macgowan, p. 20.

who is a physician is pardoned for being a Christian; religious and national prejudices disappear before him; all hearts and harems are opened; and he is welcomed as if he were carrying to the dying the elixir of immortality. He more than any one else possesses the mollia tempora fandi."1 In the wilds of the Assyrian mountains, Dr. Asahel Grant, "armed with his needle for the removal of cataract, forced mountain passes" which the sword could not command; and "amidst ferocious warriors won his way to their homes and their hearts. On account of his professional skill he was enabled to traverse in safety regions heretofore untrodden by civilized man; where inevitable death met the ordinary traveller, and in whose defiles an army would perish in attempting to effect a forcible entrance.” 2 In Damascus, "while all other Franks were grossly insulted and pelted with stones, Dr. Thomson was allowed to pass unmolested."3 A Missionary of thirty years' standing in India has declared, that, "but for the attention he was at some pains to render the sick, he knew not how he could have gained the confidence and ultimately the affection of the natives."4 Mr. Gerstmann, "by the exertion of his

1 Douglas on Missions.

* Macgowan, p. 24.

3 Third Annual Report of Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society, p. 19. * Presbyterian Review, No. XII., p. 368.

medical skill amongst the people (at Jerusalem), was the means of bringing large numbers of the Jews to listen again to Christianity, after they had entirely withdrawn themselves, at the command of the Rabbis." In Siam, Dr. Bradley introduced vaccination, and became something more than the Jenner of an empire of four millions. In Ceylon, Dr. Scudder, by his wonderful healings, eclipsed the great idol Corduswammy; and, as in Lystra of old, they sought to worship him as a god.2 In China, progress has been great, and promises almost unlimited increase. In 1820, Dr. Livingston established a small hospital at Macao; in 1827, he was followed by Mr. Colledge; and to both of these British Medical Missionaries "the sick, the maimed, and the blind resorted in crowds." In 1835, Dr. Parker, from America, settled in Canton; and to him "patients of all ranks flocked from all quarters." Other labourers have joined since. Now the applicants for relief are counted by thousands; and, true to the apostolic plan, while they are "healed of all manner of disease," they have also "the Gospel preached unto them." 3 So bright is the prospect of success in that vast country, that we find one of the Mission

1 Address to Medical Students by Edinburgh Medical Mission.

ary Society, 1842, p. 16.

2 Macgowan, pp. 24, 25.

3 See Appendix, I.