truly spiritual life among their people, it would lead to great things; but, as yet, I have not found the least entrance among them. I returned sooner from the Faioum than I expected. The heat there is excessive; so that I had almost always, whenever I made a little excursion, a fit of fever: the thermometer varied there, during the months of May and June, from 95° and 100° to 105° and 110° Fahrenheit; but, in the months of July and August, it rises to 120°; and it blows there, almost every other day, a hot wind, which is full of a fine sand, by which even my watch has been spoiled. But, notwithstanding my short stay there, I hope I was enabled, by the grace of God, to do good. In a fortnight I hope to send you my Journal, by means of which you will see that the Lord was with me, and has blessed the work of my hands. Mr. Krusé, in a Letter of the 23d of May from Caïro, addressed to Mr. Jowett, gives the following account of their proceedings in that city, and of the people among whom they live his conversations with the Coptic Priests shew where the reform of that Church must begin: he writes You will now be anxious to hear what we are doing; but may easily conceive that not much has been done, on account of our long illness, beside the study of Arabic: I can now express, in that language, what is necessary. I have visited the Patriarch as often as I could, and the Priests in the Convent frequently; conversing with them without an Interpreter, except the first time when Mr. Ossmann introduced me to the Patriarch, who was always very friendly with me whenever I visited him: he desired me to procure him a Bible of a larger print, and also a Commentary on the New Testament. A few days ago, two Priests visited me: one of them has given himself much trouble in getting a house for us. When looking at some houses, he saw Mr. Mueller, and asked me who he was, and whether he was married. Since that time he always inquires after him, and did so now: I told him that he was still in Jerusalem. He asked, "Will he marry again, when he returns "" I said, I did not know-" Is it allowed to a Priest to marry a second time?" "Yes, he may if he wishes it."-The Priest shook his head, but said nothing. I asked, “Why do you not marry a second time?" "It was so from the beginning of Christianity."-"You think, then, that you thus live strictly according to the precepts of the Gospel?" "Yes, I think we do.”—“Where is it written, that a Priest should not marry a second time ?" "I do not know exactly where." "Nor do I know any passage to that effect in the Bible."Do your Bishops marry ?" "Yes: and do you think this is against the Bible ?" Yes, it is." Then I shewed him the first and second verses of the Third Chapter of the Second Epistle to Timothy, which he read like a boy who has just left his spelling-book and begins to learn how to read. Having read this passage, he said, “In our Bible we read 66 Priest,' and not 'Bishop.'"-"Which translation is true ?" "I think Priest is the true translation."-" If we would find which translation is true, we must look at the original text; and do you know in what language the Epistle of Paul to Timothy was originally written?" "I think in Hebrew."-I took the Greek Testament, and shewed him the passage. He found fault with the Arabic Bible printed in England, alleging that it wanted many Books, which he numbered carefully. I took my German Bible, and read to him all the names of the Apocryphal Books: these he gladly heard; and he named some more, of the New Testament, written, as he said, by Paul and Peter and other Apostles. I expressed my desire to see them; but he said, 66 They are very scarce, and I do not possess them: you must apply to the Patriarch, who possesses them all." The Coptic Priests, being ignorant of the Churches in Europe, make very minute inquiries respecting them, as often Church the only true one, and ours as we come together: they think their heretical. I could fill many Letters with conversations and questions of this nature; but what I have sent is sufficient to shew that I experience the truth of what you have written in your Researches, page 118, "A Missionary in Egypt must in his patience possess his soul.' In a subsequent Letter, of the 2d of June, Mr. Krusé thus resumes the subject: After many useless questions, the 66 Priests inquired about the administration of the Lord's Supper-how, and how often, we administer it: and then told me that they administer it as often as they go to church; yea, even every day, if requisite; and that it was absolutely necessary for the Priests to receive it every Sunday at least. Not being sufficiently acquainted with Arabic to converse freely on this important subject, I only read to them two passages Matt. v. 23, 24. and 1 Cor. xi. 16, but more especially from the 27th to the 30th verses: they listened; and were surprised at these two passages, as if they had never heard or read them: my Teacher explained to the others what I meant to say; and called me Brother," which he has often done when conversing on religious subjects. My Priest, indeed, embraced every opportunity to ask me about the rite of Baptism, the use of the Cross, and Fasting: as, for instance, when he saw us drinking milk in our coffee on Wednesday, or when he heard that a fowl was killed in the kitchen during their fasting-time when they eat fish and no meat, he expressed much sorrow; and put questions on those points, to shew me that this was not right but though I never disputed with him, yet I could not be silent and leave him ignorant; but, by the help of Him who has called me, I endeavoured to shew him, in love, the truth as it is in Jesus so that, not my words merely, but the Holy Scriptures contradicted his scruples. To these Priests I gave a copy of the English Liturgy, in order that they might be better instructed in the rites of our Church. I presented the Patriarch also with a similar copy, which he gladly and thankfully received. In reference to the circulation of Books and Tracts, at present, in Egypt, Mr. Krusé states But very few are sold; and I intended to write to you last winter, but was prevented by illness, to know whether I could sell them at the following prices :-an Arabic Bible, 18 piastresa Testament, 4-Gospels, one-and-a-half -Acts of the Apostles, one-and-a-halfDairyman's Daughter, one-Prayer, half a piastre. For the small Tracts nobody will, at present, give any thing: some time ago, I sold the Epistles of St. Peter and St. John, William Kelly, Traveller and Yourself, &c. giving eight or ten copies for one piastre. The Italian Dec. 1827. : Scriptures are not at all in demand: I cannot, indeed, sell any; of Greek Scriptures, very few. Please to give us the lowest price, under which we shall not sell Books and Tracts, unless in special cases: for so long as we are obliged to sell books by means of the Copt who was with you going up the Nile, there ought to be a fixed price; because if we sell them too cheap, he will, of course, in selling them again, take as much as he can get for his own profit. There was a box containing Bibles and Testaments, in the Consulate at Caïro, which Mr. Ossmann has sold to the same man the number which I have sold is as follows Bibles, 13; Testaments, 11; Gospels, 21; Acts, 5; besides Tracts: for which Books and Tracts I have received the sum of 25 dollars 8 piastres. The man who comes to me for books, says, 66 People complain of the print, that it is too small." If wou would send me Psalms, which are very much wanted, I could sell many. We shall also soon want a new supply of Bibles and Spelling-Books in Arabic; for Mr. Lieder begins to move in different parts of Egypt, where he wants many. We have plenty of New Testaments, as I brought three cases with me from Alexandria: there were six in the Consulate at Alexandria, and Mr. Vedower desired me to take them all; but I brought only three. To Mr. Schlienz, at Malta, Mr. Krusé gives the following description of the House which the Mission occupies in Caïro After we had looked about for two months for a house, we found that which we now inhabit. It stands in the Market Street, in the Coptic Quarter: its rent is 80 Spanish dollars: our first house was not far from the English Consulate; but was not so good as this, though its rent was 100 dollars. Our present house has two doors; one toward the Market Street, and the other toward another street. On the groundfloor, there is a court-a place for the asses-a mill, which we do not use-a fountain-and a room for trunks and other things, which is a sort of magazine a story higher, there is a large and high room for our cook, and another for a female servant: a second story higher, there are two good rooms; and another large place, which is open northward a beautiful bath, and place for 4 F water-mugs-all these in good order : higher still, is the terrace, or flat roof, which is convenient for drying clothes. We can look over all the houses, northward, into the fields; and, southward, as far as to Old Caïro. There are three habitable rooms, which I intended to arrange in this manner-one, as a Study; one, for sleeping; and the third, as a dwelling-room for Mrs. Krusé and our child; but I gave to Br. Lieder the room which I intended to make the Study: this I did from gratitude toward this dear friend, who has done more for us during our late illness than we could ever expect even from a brother: I never shall forget his kindness and brotherly love. I study in a corner of the above-mentioned sleeping-room: the rest of the room suffices for the purpose of conversing with people who visit me. The lower large room is divided into two; one of which we use for a sleeping, and the other as a dining-room. Difficulties of the Mission in Egypt. The difficulties which accompany attempts to promote real Christianity in such a country as Egypt will be seen from the following remarks by Mr. Krusé :— In looking around me on the part of the Missionary Field in which we are placed, I find that much seed has been sown, but not yet sprung up; because it is covered with tares, for want of labourers. My mind has been occupied until now with thoughts on the question-"Which is the best way of doing good, and of being useful to those to whom we are sent ?" But I have found it difficult to answer this question. Mr. Mueller and I thought of getting poor children to live altogether at our house, that we might educate and instruct them; but, at present, I see no way of accomplishing this plan. Another desire came into my mind-to receive a few boys, if I could get any, in order to give them an education for the Ministry; hoping, that, in this way, much good might be done: but I could not help thinking that I might, ere long, repent of this step; for if they should not discover real piety, they would use their talents and knowledge in getting their livelihood rather from worldly business, and neglect to propagate the true knowledge of the Gospel the Priest hood here is in such a low state, that the greatest part are made Priests by force. I had still another prospect of · While we are preparing for the great work which lies before us, we cannot be better employed than in disseminating the Scriptures, and in promoting the knowledge of true Christianity by em. bracing every opportunity for conver sation: such opportunities are, however, scarce; for, though married, it is diffi cult in this country to become familiar with the people, especially with the doors of the houses are shut; and, Copts. I need not tell you that the in visiting some Copts, whom I have before visited, I am often obliged to go three or four times, because the master not being at home, the door is not opened to me: and when he is at home, I am always received by him in the court below. Even the Priests, whom we receive into our house like brethren, never, in return, shewed me one of their rooms; but, even in winter, I am obliged to sit with them below in the court, from which sitting in a damp and cold place I have often had a return of fever. We : must, however, not be discouraged : though their houses are shut and their hearts ten times more firmly closed, yet the Lord can, and will, I trust, open a door for us, where, perhaps, we do not expect it, or little think of it. His Word is still the same Word, like unto fire, as He himself declares; and like a hammer, that breaketh the rock in pieces. This statement of the difficulty of intercourse with the Copts, Mr. Krusé is aware does not realize the expectations expressed by Mr. Gobat, and quoted at p. 46 of the be the result of further acquaintlast Survey: but they found this to ance with that people. On the difficulty of gaining access to the females in Egypt, he thus speaks, in a Letter to Mr. Jowett You wish to have a description of the females and children here: but it is difficult, for the present, to obtain the confidence of the females: they even shun our house. The owner of the house, who is a female, came several times to Mrs. Krusé; but only when business called her. Br. Lieder's servant brought his brother's wife to do some sewing; but she came only once, and then sent her boy and a little girl to see whether Mrs. Krusé had something for her to do: and when Br. Lieder's servant, the uncle of that boy, once offered him a Tract, the boy refused it; and it seemed to us that he was instructed not to accept of any thing. On the character of their neighbours Mr. Krusé adds Our neighbours are very quarrelsome: there scarcely passes a day when we do not hear of strife and contentions: this circumstance, also, makes it very dith. cult to find access to them. The Christians are deeper sunk than the Mahomedans, and are our friends only so far as they see it their interest to be so: this I have experienced with trading and labouring people: they will flatter and kiss the hands; but, at the same time, will beg and deceive beyond conception. Had I not been supported by the English Janissary, I should have been obliged to pay, for many things, three times as much as we do. no fear of God before their eyes! There is Prospects with respect to Abyssinia. Mr. Lieder writes from Caïro, in the latter part of June About a fortnight ago, Mr. Coffin, of whom you have before heard, arrived from Abyssinia. He has resided there fifteen years, and has a wife and children in that country. He still wears his Abyssinian dress, which consists of a shirt, a pair of drawers, and a large white cloth which they wind about the whole body; and on his head he wears a kind of turban, almost like those of the Mahomedans. I do not know whether he intends to return to Abyssinia; but as he seems a simple-hearted man, and a Christian in name, I should like that the Brethren Kugler and Gobat might soon return from Palestine to profit by the experience of this man. Mr. Coffin was accompanied by two German Gentlemen, who were sent to Abyssinia by a German Society of Natural Science: they left Cairo a year ago, to travel thither by the way of Suez, Jidda, and Massowah: they reached Massowah in safety; but were not able to proceed further, for there the Turks demanded from them so enormous a sum for permission to enter Abyssinia, that they were obliged to return to Egypt, not being able to satisfy the demand. You will, however, not be afraid, I hope, in regard to our Brethren; for if it is the will of God that they shall go to Abyssinia with the Word of Life, no Turk will be able to hinder them in their apostolical career. He, who said to that Idolater in a dream, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob good or bad, has a thousand ways of carrying our Brethren safe through the midst of their enemies: and may also now say to the Turks, in dreams, or by the language of His dealings, "Take heed that thou do not hinder My servants." Mr. Coffin is mentioned, in a Letter from Mr. Salt to Mr. Jowett, at pp. 352-354 of our Volume for 1817: an account of him may be found in Mr. Salt's Travels in Abyssinia. Some Account of Girgis and the Abys- Some interesting particulars respecting this Young Abyssinian were given at pp. 250-252 and 330. He accompanied the Society's Missionaries to Syria; and arrived with them at Beyrout, in February. The Rev. Eli Smith, American Missionary, who also proceeded with them, speaks very highly of Girgis: he writes from Beyrout If this man is a fair representative of his nation, our Brethren's lot is cast among a most interesting people: for frankness of heart, and strength of attachment, he excels even the idea which I had formed of a simple-hearted Abyssinian. His attachment to the Bible is very strong; and he is highly gratified to obtain any part of it in a language which he can understand: it was very pleasing to hear him, when confined to his bed by sickness, call for his Gospels; and to see how diligent he was then, and at all other times, in reading them. Indeed, while with us, he has spent a great part of his time in perusing the Word of God; and so familiar has he become with it, that, when any religious remark is made to him, he is very frequently ready with some parable, or some saying of our Saviour, to confirm it. It is pleasing to learn from him, that the Amharic Gospels, as printed by the British and Foreign Bible Society, are perfectly in the dialect of his country: he finds not a word that he does not understand. In his willingness to be taught and readiness to believe, he has often reminded me of the Ethiopian Eunuch. Whenever he is pleading for any of the errors of his Church, which, however, he very rarely does, an appeal to the Word of God always satisfies him, and closes the argument. 66 When asked one day by a friend, who had become much interested in him, whether all his countrymen were good like him, he replied, with much simplicity, Am I good? I am not good. Christ is good! I am wicked!”—a confession of personal unworthiness, almost never heard in these countries, but one which he has often made of his own accord; and his frequent declarations respecting the excellence of the Saviour are such as are rarely heard, except from those whose hearts are touched with His love. One evening, since he has been in Beyrout, we made him acquainted with the case of Asaad Shidiak. He knows but little of Arabic; and, at first, did not understand us: he would have it that the man was punished for NOT reading the Bible; but, when he did understand, it was very affecting to see how strongly he felt he could use but few words, but every feature spoke his feelings more eloquently than language could do: he seemed to lose all command of himself; and flew from one to another of us, as we were standing about the room, labouring to express his abhorrence of such an unheard-of persecution. "What," said he, "for whom was the Bible written? Was it not written for all men? And is a man to be persecuted for loving and reading it? Such a thing I never heard of in my life before. Is it in this country that such things are done? I will go back to my country to-morrow: there all may read the Bible: WE MUST ALL PRAY FOR THAT POOR MAN!" He is much pleased with our frequent meetings for prayer and for reading the Scriptures. We deeply regret that he is so little acquainted with Arabic as not to be profited by them, and as to prevent our becoming fully acquainted with the state of his heart. Our Brethren here say, that he seems to be such a man as they have in vain sought for in all this country-one who fears God, and is ready at once to receive His Word with gratitude and joy. In attachment to the Word of God and reverence for it, I believe he is like many of his countrymen-strange as this may seem, considering that they as yet have it only in a language which they do not understand, and of course are in great darkness respecting it. With this advantage, the Missionary may, if God smile upon his labours, easily undermine the various errors into which this, in common with all its Sister Churches in the East, has fallen. They are represented as being fond of learning, and conceiving strong attachment to those who will teach them: indeed strong affection and honest fidelity are the wellknown characteristics of the Nation; at least well enough known to bear their regular premium in all the Slave Markets in the East - those horrid places, where human qualities are placed on a level with those of brutes, by being estimated in dollars and cents! At present, according to Girgis, about half the people of Abyssinia can read; although they have as yet no books except in Ethiopic, which to them is a dead language. He represents his countrymen as depraved and ignorant: it is well known, that polygamy is very generally practised among them: the King himself almost equals his pretended ancestor, King Solomon, in the number of his wives: the Church, however, acknowledges but one as a lawful wife, In their reverence for the Virgin, in the number of their saints, and in the strictness of their fasts, they exceed even the Romish Church. Girgis pays no regard to the fasts, and the name of the Virgin he had hardly mentioned: once, indeed, he contended strenuously for her perpetual virginity; but when shewed that the Bible left it doubtful, he allowed that it was a matter of no consequence. It is a fact of considerable importance, that the intrigues of the Jesuits are not remembered to excite any jealousies unfavourable to our Brethren: at least, Girgis, although he knows that such men were once in his country, seems not to |