stances, connected with true faith in the Redeemer. Who would willingly possess the eye which refused to weep on Mount Calvary; or claim the heart which could not glow where our Redeemer ascended from earth to heaven?

My first visit to the city of Corinth awakened feelings within me of very pleasing seriousness. Approaching from the road of Argos, I found the most celebrated classical scenery gradually unfolding itself before me-Parnassus, with its poetic recollections, came in view-soon afterwards Helicon appeared-then Citharon was visible. But to me, at that moment, this scene presented attractions scarcely susceptible. I was under the influence of superior charms, and felt myself engaged by more elevated recollections. I remembered, that I was now treading on ground which had received the footsteps of the great Apostle of the Gentiles; that it was here, St. Paul determined to know nothing amongst men save Jesus Christ and him crucified; that at Corinth, by the Divine blessing on his labours, a primitive Church was collected, to which the language was addressed, Ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Under the force of such ideas, I looked with coldness on Parnassus, and with comparative indifference on Helicon and Citharon. Parnassus was more interesting to me, from the reflection that the eye

of St. Paul had rested on it, than from any other cause: I was delighted, because I could hold a species of distant communion with him, by means of this classical mountain. How unfeigned is the respect which we feel for those whom we believe to be really living to serve God and to make others happy; in whom the devotional and the benevolent feelings have proved superior to those which are earthly and selfish! Their honours will endure, and increase in splendour, when all the fame which stood only in connexion with Parnassus and Classical Greece will have sunk in eternal oblivion, or be consigned to merited insignificance. Be it ours, then, to set our affections on things above, not on things on the earth! May our ambition rise higher than the highest ambition which is earthly! May we come decidedly, in faith and spirit, unto Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem! May we yield ourselves devotedly to the service of Christ, as did the Apostles whom we commemorate, till, in the event, we are spectators of nobler scenes, and partake of richer enjoyment, than earthly prospects or recollections can furnish!

CHAPTER I.

CALAMITIES OF TURKEY.

Turkey the most unhappy of all countries-Deserted Burial-groundsDesolations of Ephesus-Laodicea-Sardis-Diminution of population at Constantinople-Corfu-Ægina-Colossæ-Discovery of Apamea and Sagalassus Site of Antioch of Pisidia, and other places mentioned in Scripture, not yet discovered-Reflections-Destruction of the Janissaries -Massacre of Greeks-of twenty-seven Samiots at Vourla-Total desolation of Psara-Disappearance of Mahomedans and their religion from the Morea-Unhappy condition of Women in Turkey-Polygamy-Slavery of Greek Females-Scene of distress at Magnesia.

TURKEY, whether regarded in a secular or religious point of view, presents a dark and dismal picture. Its history, like the roll of Ezekiel, is written, within and without, with lamentation, and mourning and woe. To the religious state of the empire we shall chiefly direct our attention; but the calamities not strictly religious, which have befallen these lands, stand in such intimate connexion with religious considerations, and afford room for reflections of so serious a character, that we shall not hesitate to commence with them.

Were it requisite to place a motto at the head of this chapter, we should find one highly appropriate in the language of the Prophet:-Destruction upon

destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled. Against our entire globe, it is true, divine displeasure is directed on every man, as a sinner, divine indignation is ready to be discharged: but if there be any part of our world more exposed than another to the righteous vengeance of God, it is surely the Ottoman Empire. It might seem as if there the thunders of Heaven rolled with more awful reverberation, and as if there the lightnings of God's displeasure were doomed to display their most destructive agency, and to sear, consume, and desolate with unaccustomed effect. These lands, once the most favoured, are now the most chastised of all countries.

Few occurrences can evince more clearly a calamitous condition of the human race than habitual diminution of population. One of the first and most powerful laws of our nature is, Increase and multiply. When we, therefore, observe an instinct so imperative frustrated, and the most powerful tendencies of Nature turned out of their due course, there can be no doubt that some mighty evil is at work. And such is precisely the case in the Turkish Empire. In whatever direction the traveller proceeds, he observes cemeteries crowded with the dead: and if he inquire where are their descendants, no answer can be given. Frequently, no town, no village, no cottage on the borders of the deserted burialground, can suggest the reply, "Here are the