JOURNALS

OF THE

REV. JOHN HARTLEY.

VISIT TO THE APOCALYPTIC CHURCHES,

IN THE YEAR 1826.

PRELIMINARY REMARKS.

A MISSIONARY, who visits the Christian Communities of the Mediterranean, finding the doctrines of Christianity either little understood by those who hold them, or greatly neglected and distorted, will feel it an unquestionable duty to illuminate as many persons as possible, with the primitive light of the Gospel; and to teach them to discriminate between its genuine doctrines and the false and injurious additions of men. This I have felt to be my principal object, during my sojourn in these countries; and I can testify, with gratitude

to God, that, in every chief place which I have yet visited, I have found abundant opportunity of imparting such knowledge. Not a few persons have been led to disclaim those errors in which they have been educated, and to join me in religious worship. And of some I even venture to hope, that it has pleased God to accompany the acquisition of knowledge with a considerable change in their moral character. It is my earnest prayer that they may prove themselves true followers of Christ, by sincere devotedness of heart, and by exemplary sanctity of life. When I am engaged, therefore, with only a few individuals, in reading the Scriptures, in explaining and enforcing their meaning, and in united prayer, I feel myself to be employed in my chief Missionary duty, and it is my hope to spend much of my life in this manner.

Having arrived at Smyrna at Christmas 1825, I was engaged till the end of March, partly in duties of this nature, and partly in studies subservient to my Missionary work. In April, I undertook the Journey of which the following pages contain a narrative, with the view of obtaining information on the religious state of these countries, and of promoting the dissemination of the Scriptures and other books, by engaging the co-operation of the Natives. Nor was I without hopes of effecting good, by conversation with individuals, and by the distribution of such books as I could take with me.

SMYRNA.

The Church of Smyrna is represented (Rev. ii. 8-11,) as contending with most severe sufferingspoverty, slander, and persecution: but Modern Smyrna is a far greater sufferer. The former things have passed away: the faithful Smyrnæans have long since fought their battle and won their crown. But now the evils are of a different order,-apostacy, idolatry, superstition, infidelity, and their tremendous consequences. On whatever side we look, we meet only with what is calculated to excite painful feelings. The religion now predominant, was unknown in the days when Polycarp was martyred; and, unlike the Paganism of Rome, which disappeared and fell before Christianity, it still maintains its seat, and lords it over those countries where the Redeemer suffered, and where His Gospel was first proclaimed. Rome is the only place of importance mentioned in the Scriptures which has not been for centuries under the Mahomedan yoke.

The population of Smyrna has been estimated at 100,000, and even more. But the practice of exaggerating the population, which is so general in this country, has extended, I conceive, to this enumeration. I do not think that Smyrna contains many more than 75,000 inhabitants. Perhaps there

may be 45,000 Turks, 15,000 Greeks, 8000 Armenians, 8000 Jews, and less than 1000 Europeans. The Mosques are more than twenty. The Greeks have three Churches; the Armenians, one; the Latins, two; the Protestants, two. The Jews have several Synagogues.

Mr. Jowett has given us an interesting account of the Greeks in these parts, in his "Christian Researches in the Mediterranean." I regret to say, that, at present, a cloud has darkened that pleasing picture. The Universities of Scio and Haivali, which promised to be the cradle of Grecian Learning and Religion, have been destroyed; and a check has been given to Education, which there are but slender hopes to see repaired. Smyrna has participated in the general miseries of Greece. No longer do we find Economus giving instruction to his young countrymen; and in vain do we look for any institution which is calculated to assist the studies of the rising population. I am happy, however, to remark that the " Evangelical School" still exists, an institution, which owes its perpetuity to English protection, and which, if it be not calculated to lead the pupil into the field of extensive knowledge, prevents him at least from being sunk in utter ignorance. I had the pleasure of frequent intercourse with the Master of this School, and found him one of the most liberal Ecclesiastics whom I have met with in the Eastern Communion.