The intellect which has gained such ancient and immortal celebrity has for ages been dormant. Successive generations of Greeks have been exercising no more than animal functions. But, at length, a momentous revolution has been effected. The spirit which so long had been enslaved, in an enslaved body, has heard the cry-the ancient cry-of Liberty. It has partaken of the freedom which has been communicated to the soil and to its inhabitants. It has started from its protracted slumber. It has risen from its dark sepulchre. It has begun to put forth its ancient energies and-delightful to contemplate!—it is saluted, on its new birth, by Christian Truth. It is cherished, strengthened—and will, we trust, be matured-by the lessons of a spiritual and sanctifying Religion. It is rising now—not to a Pagan eminence-but to a Christian altitude. And we may rejoice in the hope, that the following poetic description will be consonant with

truth.

No proud Pantheon, flaming in the sun,
To claim for many gods that due to One;

No scene of tranquil grove, and bubbling stream,

For vain Philosophy to dream—and dream,

Till Reason shews a maze without a clue,

And Truth seems false, and Falsehood's self seems true.

Oh no!-upon thy temples, gladly bright,
The Truth reveal'd sheds down its living light.
Thine is no champion badge of Pagan shame;
But that best gift-the Cross of Him, who came
To lift the guilty spirit from the sod,

And point from earth to Heaven, from man to God.

BYZANTIUM, Cambridge Prize Poem.

CHAP. XII.

PUBLIC PREACHING IN GREECE.

Sermons in the Church of the Panagia, in Ægina-Attendance of persons of distinction-Singular expressions of feelingSermon in Hydra-Description of that island-Hospitality and friendship of Greeks-Appearance of the Congregation in the "Church of the Monastery"-Feelings of the Author Subject of the Sermon, derived from the passion for liberty Atrocious character of some of the Hydriotes — Massacre of three hundred Turkish slaves-Sermon in the Church of Megaspelaion, with a description of that Monastery.

THE Communication of religious truth, by every means which can be employed, is important; but that mode of proclaiming it, which is usually designated preaching, is perhaps of more importance than any other. When I left my native country, I had scarcely ventured to anticipate that opportunities of this description would be afforded me in Greece: but I met with occasions of the kind, which I cherish amongst my fondest recollections, and which will, I trust, not be deemed wholly unworthy of notice. During my interesting sojourn in Ægina, in the winter of

1827-28, I had frequent conversations on Religion with influential persons. In consequence of these discussions, I once observed to some of them, that it would yield me peculiar pleasure if I had an opportunity of addressing them in a connected discourse. I pointed out some of the advantages of such a method; and, more especially, expressed my wish to discourse upon the Evidences of Christianity. To this suggestion so much deference was paid, that it instantly became matter of inquiry, what place would be most suitable for the purpose. When I first started the proposal, I had not the most distant conception that it would lead to the public proclamation of the Truth in Greek churches. I had simply expected to see some of my friends assembled in a house sufficiently commodious for the purpose, and then to unfold my opinions: but, to my astonishment and delight, it was proposed that I should address them in the principal church; and, without the least difficulty, permission to that effect was obtained from the President of the Legislative Body. Thus was I left at public liberty to preach in the Church of the Panagia, as often as I thought proper; and, subsequently, in various other churches. Indeed, under the peculiar circumstances of the times, I question

if any church in Liberated Greece would have been denied me.

It was in the same building that the Legislative Body held its Sessions; and, when I preached in the afternoon, I generally had a large number of the Senators to hear me. I have observed amongst my auditors, Mavrocordato, Tricupi and his Lady, Theophilus, formerly Professor at Haivali, Pharmakides, and many other persons of distinction. After one of my discourses, a cousin of Kolokotroni observed, "To-day, we have had all the Пpoйovτes (the principal persons) of the Peloponnesus at church."

I did not think it wise to employ the permission given me too often: I therefore limited myself to four addresses in Ægina. The three first were almost entirely directed to the object of establishing the truth of Christianity; and in the last, I took up some of the leading doctrines of Religion, and made a pointed application of them. The former subject was become extremely needful, in consequence of the rapid growth of infidelity amongst the higher classes, and the entire want of any means to counteract it. The latter subject is, at all times, and in all places, the principal medium of Ministerial and Missionary labour; and I was delighted to have an opportunity of em