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UNITED INFLUENCE OF

hold it, therefore, far preferable, that the two offices should be united in those, whose zeal for the benefit of mankind may carry them to that remote part of the world. Of this union, we know several respectable instances at home, and it cannot be forgotten that Linacre, the first president of this college, took orders in the latter period of his life, and died in the exercise of those sacred functions."

We have taken the liberty to quote, thus largely, from the foregoing speech, because, coming from such a source, and delivered before such an audience, it shows that the amelioration of China, by the united influence of medicine and religion, occupies the attention of the most learned, most pious, and most exalted in our land; while it augurs well for the cause of that populous and interesting empire, being taken up generally and vigorously by the people of this country. What Sir Henry has observed, respecting the union of the two offices, in one person, is appropriate and just; where the practitioner of physic is able to fulfil the duties of the minister of the Gospel, we hail the combination with delight and satisfaction. The length of time, however, that is necessary to qualify persons for the successful and efficient discharge of the duties of both professions, would be unfavourable to the acquisition of the native language, which is not so easily attained after the meridian of life is passed; while some danger exists of former acquirements being forgotten, during the years devoted to philological studies. By attempting too much, therefore, we may spoil all, and render our agents skilful in nothing. The division of labour in this, as well as every other department, will be adviseable, and excellencies of various kinds should be brought to bear on the one great object. Let our medical men be eminent in their profession,

MEDICINE AND RELIGION.

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and skilled in every branch of the healing art; but let them, at the same time, be deeply pious, thoroughly imbued with a missionary spirit, and sound, though not profound divines. Then let them use their professional attainments only as a means to an end, and as soon as they can effect a residence, or gain any influence over the minds of the natives, let them consecrate every advantage to the diffusion of the Gospel. Our missionaries, also, should not only be proficient in classical, theological, and biblical learning, but should have some acquaintance with medicine, so as to render very important aid to their medical brethren.

Such labourers, sent two and two, along the coast of China, may succeed, under the Divine blessing, in making a useful impression on that hitherto impenetrable country.

Let those, therefore, who have acquired the necessary qualifications, and whose souls burn with a desire to accomplish lasting and effectual good, consider, whether they can possibly devise an undertaking more likely to result in the purest gratification to themselves, the most extensive usefulness to their fellow men, and the greatest glory to God our Saviour, than the object now proposed. The relief they would afford to suffering humanity, and the grateful acknowledgments which they would so frequently receive, must spread a delight through the mind, of which those only who know the luxury of doing good can have the least conception; while the result of such labours, in tending to open the vast and populous empire of China, to the efforts of missionaries, will be greater than any that could be produced by pious and philanthropic labours in any other part of the world. Instead of benefiting a village, or a generation, such individuals would be the means

of blessing the greatest of nations, and that to the latest posterity.

Those who propose to engage in this undertaking, should be men of ardent piety and orthodox sentiments, willing to go forth, with the same views, and under the same regulations, as other missionaries. They should make the propagation of the Gospel the business of their lives, connect all their operations with a dependance on the Divine blessing, study accurately the native language, and embrace every opportunity of imparting religious instruction to their patients and others.

Besides having received a thorough medical edu cation, and possessing extensive practical experience, the candidate for such an office should be fully informed on physiology and pathology, therapeutics and pharmacy, clinical and operative surgery, with obstetric medicine. Some months might then be allowed him to devote himself to biblico-theological instruction, and the elements of the Chinese language; after which he might go forth, in the capacity of "the beloved physician," to evangelize and bless the nations.

CHAPTER XXII.

DESIDERATA FOR THE CHINESE MISSION.

TRANSLATION OF THE SCRIPTURES

DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY -EF FORTS ALREADY MADE-NEED OF A REVISION-OPINIONS OF CHINESE CONVERTS-AND EUROPEAN STUDENTS— RESOLUTION OF THE BIBLE AND MISSIONARY SOCIETIES-STEPS TO BE TAKEN -IMPORTANCE OF THE SUBJECT-CHINESE PRINTING-MOVEABLE TYPES-MODE OF PREPARATION-NECESSITY OF PUNCH-CUTTING-AND CASTING-DYER'S FOUNT-PARISIAN TYPE-FOUNDING-VARIOUS COST OF BLOCK, STONE AND METAL TYPE PRINTING-WITH THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF XYLOGRAPHY LITHOGRAPHY · AND TYPOGRAPHY

SUPERIORITY AND IMPORTANCE OF THE LATTER.

ONE of the greatest achievements of the protestant mission to China is, doubtless, the translation of the whole Bible into the language of that country. This work will immortalize the names of Morrison, Milne, and Marshman, who being dead, yet speak. In undertaking, however, to give the mind of the Spirit to the millions of south-eastern Asia, they attempted a great task. The first difficulty to be overcome was, the attainment of the language, which, for a long time, was considered beyond the compass of ordinary capacities to acquire; its numerous and complicated hieroglyphics, together with its extremely nice distinctions of accent, were sufficient to appal any but the most ardent and persevering minds. The fact of several thousand Chinese traders at Canton learning English, and scarcely an English merchant there mastering Chinese, seemed

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DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY.

to indicate, that the latter language was vastly more unattainable than the former. This herculean task was, however, commenced, and the ability to speak and write in Chinese rewarded the toil of the first labourers. But familiarity with the language tended only to shew how widely it differed, in its whole structure, from that of the rest of the world. The Chinese having branched off from the great human family, very soon after the dispersion, and holding little or no intercourse with other nations, have grown up a distinct people, as isolated as if they had been the inhabitants of another planet. Their minds appear to have been cast in a different mould; and their thoughts arranged in a manner peculiar to themselves. Unlike the languages of Europe, that of China is hieroglyphic and monosyllabic, and "so devoid of grammatical construction, that it seems the very copy of the forms of thought expressed in signs by the deaf and dumb." Hence the difficulty of translating from a foreign tongue into Chinese, and vice versa; a difficulty felt only by those, who have attempted to make the writings of eastern and western nations mutually intelligible to each other.

Again, the situation of China tends to increase the difficulty. Its inhabitants are utterly ignorant of the Gospel history, doctrines, terms, and allusions. Every feeling in the country is inimical to foreigners; they suspect and despise barbarians, and repudiate whatever emanates from countries beyond their own. Under these circumstances, to produce a version, that should be at once faithful and idiomatic, conformable to the original text, and yet intelligible to the Chinese, must be a matter of some difficulty.