Judgment of the persons present, and of one of the Committee: Some said, that the Scripture does not speak for the Pictures. Others: "If, as we perceive, it is forbidden, we ought not even to have Pictures." Others: "If it does not permit even the likeness of any thing, what else is a Picture but the likeness of a Saint." To whom I answered: "In truth, it is not permitted: it were well that we had not such likenesses." I also read to them Romans i. 23. In conclusion, I trust their minds were impressed, and that they were comforted. In the whole of Andros, I sold 38 copies of the large Testament, and 28 of the small, and Tracts to the value of 100 piastres; besides what I bestowed gratuitously to many truly poor Children.

Zea: Aug. 6, 1828-Religious conversation with one who is a Deacon and Teacher of the School of Mutual Instruction. I asked him if it was long since he had read the whole of the Sacred Scriptures. "Scarcely ever have I read it," he replied; "since I had it not." I then presented him with one of the Diglotts (i.e. the large edition of the Ancient and Modern Greek); and when he was exceedingly delighted, I said, "Let us begin now, and read a passage." I began to read 1 Tim. iii.; and after he saw that the Bishop must be blameless, the husband of one wife, for a short time he reflected; and then said to me, "Brother, what is that which it writes? I do not believe it: it must be an error.' When he had taken the Scripture into his

hands, he read the Original only, in order that he might

search for the truth: and when he was well certified that the Deacon also must be the husband of one wife, he said to me, "Brother, were then is our wife?" To whom I also read 1 Tim. iv. When he had understood this chapter, he said, "Truly our Caloyers (Monks) have apostatized from the Faith, and have hindered us to marry! Do you know, Brother, what they promised me, that I might become a Monk? They shewed me their fine robes, their silver plate, their good eating and drinking they flattered me, in order to make me a Caloyer; and they even ordained me Deacon gratis. When I perceived that he found pleasure and liking for the Sacred Scriptures, I said to him: "Brother, you will find many such examples in the whole of the Scriptures, when you read them, calling for assistance from on High. By degrees, I shewed him, that from Jesus Christ alone comes our salvation, 1 John V. 11, 12;— that our own works do not justify us, but faith in Jesus Christ; since we are justified gratuitously with His grace (Rom. iii. 9, to the end);-that good works are the fruit and evidence of true faith; I that there is one God, and one Mediator, Jesus Christ; and through Him we have access, by one Spirit, to the Father (1 Tim. ii. 5. Eph. ii. 18); and that in the whole Sacred Scripture there is not found one single command to pray to, or to worship, Saints, Angels, or the Holy Virgin, but God only: (Matth. iv. 10. Phil. iv. 6. Acts x. 25, 26. Rev. xxii. 8, 9. Coloss. ii. 18.)

He was persuaded by all my quotations, except con

cerning the Holy Virgin. He said: "It does not displease Christ, if I glorify his Mother." I replied to him: " My friend, we do not see any command in the Scriptures to pray to her, or information that she mediates for us, as I said before to you. See how Christ treats her, Matth. xii. 47, 48. John ii. 4. xviii. 26; knowing that we should afterwards deify her, as is at present the case with our nation. For when we say, "With all our heart, soul, mind, and with our lips, we glorify thee,' and when we call her "Queen of Heaven and Earth," what other adoration or glory remains for God? Does not the text Rom. i. 25. apply to us? They worshipped the creature more than the Creator. I said to him, Truly she was the most holy of Saints, but was not, however, God." At length, I convinced him.

66

دو

In our few private meetings with different persons, I openly disproved the Worship of Pictures. I represented the subject in this manner. "You say, that this Picture does miracles, but the other not: but if one has that power, the other also must have it. But since one does not possess that power, neither can the other. Do you wish me to give you certainty? Bring me any Picture you please; and if, on breaking it, my hands fall off, then there is a miracle. Do you not see, that your most famous Pictures have been destroyed, at different times, by so many Infidels; and that your sacred things have been trampled under foot? And what did those Infidels suffer? they neither were blinded, nor did their hands fall off. Why? because the Pictures are not in harmony

with God's will." They began to say to one another, "Our friend speaks well. We see, indeed, evident miracles at the present day. We see Infidels, Idolaters, Savages, embracing the Sacred Gospel, and becoming truly followers and zealous Apostles of Christ-nations, and entire kingdoms, without superstitions, prejudices, and old traditions." I also spoke to them concerning the Lord's Supper, and Fasts, and Mysteries, that they are not as they imagine. I proved to them which are such according to the Gospel, and which are according to their Tradition. According to my ability, I taught them in different parts; and in Coffee-houses I frequently read to them the more requisite parts of the Sacred Gospel.

I fear that I may trouble you with my prolixity. I beg you to entreat the Lord for me, to open and regenerate my heart and mind, that I may become, in future, useful to my Christian Brethren. Give my humble salutations to Mr. Benjamin Barker: tell him that I am eager to fulfil his commands; and that I attend to my employment, knowing the things of this world to be dung and dross. Last of all, I entreat you to write, on my account, to my master, Mr. Leeves; from whom, after so many years' acquaintance, I shall not hide my respect, requesting that I may still render him my faithful services. May he live, and have me in his kind regards, as he always has had!

I remain, &c.

JOANNES LAZARIDES.

APPENDIX,

(No. II.)

LETTER OF PROFESSOR BAMBAS.

(See p. 149.)

Αἰδέσιμε Κύριε

Ἔμαθα ἀπὸ τὸν φίλονμας Κύριον Κεννέδην, ὅτι ἦσθε ἕτοιμος νὰ ἀναχωρήσητε εἰς Ζάκυνθον. Ενόνω μὲ τοῦ σεβασμίου φίλου τὰς εὐχὰς καὶ τὰς ἰδικάς μου, ὑπὲρ τῆς ὑγιείας, καὶ πνευματικῆς καρποφορίας τῶν ἱερῶν ἀγώνωνσας. Σᾶς στέλλω τρία συστατικὰ γράμματα· μὴ βιασθῆτε ὅμως νὰ μεταβῆτε εἰς τὴν Πελοπόννησον, ἀλλ ̓ ἀκριβῶς πληροφορηθῆτε αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν Ζάκυνθον περὶ τῆς καταστάσεως τῶν ἐκεῖ πραγμάτων.

Χάριτι Κυρίου καὶ Σωτῆρος ἡμῶν ὑγιαίνω ἐπανέλαβα καὶ τοὺς ἀγῶνας τοῦ ἐπαγγελματός μου. Παρακαλῶ νὰ μὲ ἐνθυμῆσθε πάντοτε εἰς τὰς πρὸς Θεὸν εὐχάςσας· μένω μὲ ὅλο τὸ σέβας, καὶ τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ ἀγάπην,

εἰς τὰς προσταγάςσας πρόθυμος,

TRANSLATION.

Ν. ΒΑΜΒΑΣ.

"REV. SIR

• I have learnt, from our friend Dr. Kennedy, that you are ready to depart for Zante. I unite my own