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with those two cities. It deserves also to be noticed, that the remains of two Churches are still visible. It is delightful, then, to reflect, that, amidst these ruins of idolatry and pleasure, is reposing the earthly part of many faithful Christians; and that the last trumpet will call forth, from beneath the incrustations of PamboukKalesi, many a glorified body, to heavenly mansions. At present, no Christian resides in the vicinity. There is only a miserable Turkish Village, situated beneath the most eastern of the cascades.

LAODICEA.

From Hierapolis we directed our course toward another ancient city, which suggests, to the serious mind, topics of painful but of useful interest. I know of no part of the Sacred Scriptures which is more calculated to alarm the careless, than the Epistle to the Laodiceans, Rev. iii. 14—22. It is not merely the infidel, the profane, or the licentious, who find cause to tremble on reading these verses. Many, who have much that is amiable and moral in their deportment, are here brought under condemnation. Our Lord does not charge the Laodiceans with heinous crimes: He does not say, "Because thou dost not worship the Lord thy God-because thou dost not keep holy the Sabbathday because thou killest, committest adultery, or art living in open violation of every one of the Divine Commands: no! awful as are the guilt and danger of such a condition, there is another state, most

odious in the eye of the Almighty-Because thou art neither cold nor hot-because thou art lukewarmbecause thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. Let us carefully attend to the condition of the Laodiceans. They were Christians: they were Christians who had a Creed uncorrupted by human additions, and correct according to the very model of Apostolic Preaching: nor, as just noticed, were they chargeable with any open deviation from the path of God's Commandments. But they were not zealous for Christ: they were precisely in the situation of those who condemn earnestness and activity on the subject of eternal salvation; who are continually misapplying the precept, Be not righteous overmuch; and who consider themselves possessed of many qualities extremely valuable in the sight of God, while they scarcely understand or even condemn those who frequently employ terms of self-condemnation. They did not feel themselves excited to any powerful efforts, by the contemplation of their Redeemer's love, or by the force of His example. Their conduct shewed no signs of striving to enter in at the strait gate-of fighting the good fight of faith—of counting all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord-of praying without ceasing. They did not love that Saviour, whose religion they professed to adopt, more than their father, their mother, and their life itself: nor could they comply with His strict language, Whosoever he be, of you, that

forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Our Lord declares, therefore, His indignation, in language the most expressive and alarming-I will spue thee out of my mouth. Happy for those who feel

To

the force of these admonitions and warnings! such, promises are annexed, no less encouraging than the rebuke is alarming-Behold! I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me-To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne; even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne.

The first object which attracts attention at Laodicea is the great number of sarcophagi. In these, I reflected, the material part of many Laodicean Christians

has returned, "earth to earth-ashes to ashes-dust to dust" their spirits have long since given account of the manner in which they availed themselves of the faithful admonitions of the Apocalypse.

The city of Laodicea was seated on a hill of moderate height, but of considerable extent. Its ruins attest, that it was large, populous, and splendid. There are still to be seen an Amphitheatre, a Theatre, an Aqueduct, and many other buildings. But its present condition is in striking conformity with the rebuke and threatening of God. Not a single Christian resides at Laodicea! No Turk even has a fixed residence on this forsaken spot. Infidelity itself must confess, that the menace of the Scriptures has been executed.

It was a subject of interest to me, to find that the Amphitheatre, which still remains, was built not much later than the time when St. John wrote the Apocalypse: nor could I help inquiring, whether theatrical amusements might not have been one of the principal causes which induced the decay of spirituality at Laodicea. We know, from the passionate fondness of the Ancients for these sports, and also from the powerful condemnation of them by the Primitive Fathers, that they must have been a source of serious temptation to the early Christians. Unhappy was the hour, when the Youth of either sex were prevailed on to take their seat in these splendid structures! That solid and serious felicity which the Gospel imparts would soon be expelled, amidst such tumultuous assemblies; and, with so many objects to inflame the passions and to corrupt the heart, there was little prospect that a single visit would leave the individual without being infected with a dangerous contagion. Though circumstances may be somewhat different in modern theatres, it is greatly to be apprehended that the results are not dissimilar. How many a Youth, who encouraged the best hopes, has been utterly ruined by these entertainments!

FROM LAODICEA TO COLOSSE.

We spent the night in a Turkish Village near at hand. As if Christians had no claim even to the vicinity of Laodicea, it was here first that we met with incivility. It was difficult for our servants, who had

gone before, to obtain us a lodging; and, when we ourselves arrived, we found no disposition on the part of the villagers to treat us with kindness. Friendly demeanour, however, on our part, seemed at length to conciliate them; and we enjoyed some refreshing repose, though our horses shared the same room with ourselves. We have by this time become accustomed to the unpleasantness of "living in state;" in other words, of being observed in every motion, whether eating, dressing, writing, &c., by a crowd of spectators. Knives and forks, and various articles which to Europeans are almost indispensable, are, in Turkey, objects of no small curiosity.

April 6, 1826-After an hour's ride, we arrived at Denizli. This is a large and flourishing town; and, as we happened to visit it on the market-day, every thing wore an aspect of bustle and activity. There is a considerable number of Greek residents: they assert that they occupy 60 houses; and I was glad to find Romaïc still spoken by them. They have one Church; and we heard of another of the Armenians. After continual exposure to observation for so long a time, it was to me quite a treat to find an opportunity for retirement and prayer. Here, also, I was permitted, in some degree, to exercise my proper office. I had much conversation on Religion with a Greek from Conieh (the Ancient Iconium), and with three or four others. The Missionary who would aspire to revive the ancient Churches of Hierapolis, Laodicea, and Colossæ, must establish himself

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