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to promote the welfare of my fellow-creatures, and more willing to be sacrificed in a great cause, than to remain an idle spectator of the misery entailed on China by idolatry, I could not remain concealed at a place where there are so many mandarins-it was expected that the local authorities would interfere. Almost friendless, with small pecuniary resources, without any personal knowledge of the country and its inhabitants, I was forced to prepare for the worst. Considerations of this kind, accompanied by the most reasonable conjecture, that I could do nothing for the accomplishment of the great enterprise, would have intimidated and dispirited me, if a power from on High had not continually and graciously upheld and strengthened me. Naturally timid, and without talent and resources in myself, yet by Divine aid, and by that alone, I was foremost in times of danger, and to such a degree, that the Chinese sailors would often call me a bravado.

Fully persuaded that I was not prompted by self-interest and vain-glory, but by a sense of duty as a missionary, and deeply impressed by the greatness and all-sufficiency of the Saviour's power and gracious assistance enjoyed in former days, I grounded my hope of security on

protection under the shadow of his wings, and my expectation of success on the promises of his holy word. It has long been the firm conviction of my heart, that in these latter days the glory of the Lord will be revealed to China; and that, the dragon being dethroned, Christ will be the sole king and object of adoration throughout this extensive empire. This lively hope of China's speedy deliverance from the thraldom of Satan by the hand of our great Lord, Jesus Christ-the King of kings, to whom all nations, even China, are given as an inheritance, constantly prompts me to action, and makes me willing rather to perish in the attempt of carrying the gospel to China, than to wait quietly on the frontiers, deterred by the numerous obstacles which seem to forbid an entrance into the country.

I am fully aware that I shall be stigmatized as a headstrong enthusiast, an unprincipled rambler, who rashly sallies forth, without waiting for any indications of divine providence, without first seeing the door opened by the hand of the Lord; as one fond of novelty, anxious to have a name, fickle in his purposes, who leaves a promising field, and restlessly hurries away to another; all of whose endeavours will not only prove useless, but will actually impede the progress of

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the Saviour's cause. I shall not be very anxious. to vindicate myself against such charges, though some of them are very well founded, until the result of my labours shall be made known to my accusers. I have weighed the arguments for and against the course I am endeavouring to pursue, and have formed the resolution to publish the gospel to the inhabitants of China Proper, in all the ways, and by all the means, which the Lord our God appoints in his word and by his providence; to persevere in the most indefatigable manner so long as there remains any hope of success; and rather to be blotted out from the list of mortals, than to behold with indifference the uncontrolled triumph of Satan over the Chinese. Yet still I am not ignorant of my own nothingness, nor of the formidable obstacles which, on every side, shut up the way and impede our progress; and I can only say, "Lord, here I am, use me according to thy holy pleasure."

Should any individuals be prompted to extol my conduct, I would meet and repel such commendation by my thorough consciousness of possessing not the least merit; let such persons rather than thus vainly spend their breath, come forth, and join in the holy cause with zeal and wisdom superior to any who have gone before

them; the field is wide, the

harvest truly great, Egotism, obtrusive

and the labourers are few. monster! lurks through these pages; it is my sincere wish, therefore, to be completely swallowed up in the Lord's great work, and to labour unknown and disregarded, cherishing the joyful hope that my reward is in heaven, and my name, though a very unworthy one, written in " the book of life." I return to my detail.

In the afternoon, September 22d, we passed a grove, on the left bank of the river Pei-ho, which is said to have been visited by the Emperor Keen-lung. It contains a few houses, but is at present a mere jungle. On the opposite bank we observed a shop, having a sign with this inscription, written in large capitals, Idols and Budhas of all descriptions newly made and repaired. This sign told plainly the condition of the people around me, and called forth earnest intercession on their behalf.

CHAPTER III.

THE scene, as we approached Teen-tsin, became very lively. Great numbers of boats and junks, almost blocking up the passage, and crowds of people on shore, bespoke a place of considerable trade. After experiencing much difficulty from the vessels which thronged us on every side, we at length came to anchor in the suburbs of the city, in a line with several junks lately arrived from Soakah, and were saluted by the merry peals of the gong. I had been accustomed to consider myself quite a stranger among these people, and was therefore surprised to see the eyes of many of them immediately fixed on me. My skill as a physician was soon put in requisition. The next day, while passing the junk on my way to the shore, I was hailed by a number of voices, as the seensang-" teacher," or doctor;" and, on looking around me, I saw many smiling faces, and numerous hands stretched out to invite me to sit down. These people proved to be some of my old friends, who, a long time before, had received medicines

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