tained their influence by inter-marriages, in consequence of the contiguity of Roman-Catholic Countries to the Mediterranean, much more easily than could possibly be the case with the remoter Protestants of England, Holland, and Germany.

The number of Latin or Frank Roman-Catholic Missionaries, whom devotion and the Papal System induce to visit Syria and the Holy Land, and who take up their residence either in Monasteries or in the principal cities, is never inconsiderable. It is indeed, at present, far inferior to what it was formerly: but, for the whole of this tract, their number, even at this day, cannot be computed to be less than seventy. The influence of the European Friars constantly serves to maintain in the Levant, in which they lead a migratory life, a kind of European or Frank attachment among many Levantine Families of Western origin or connections.

PROTESTANTS.

THE Protestants in Syria are but few in number; consisting, principally, either of Consular Representatives of Protestant Nations, or of Merchants from those countries. In former times, there was an English Protestant Chaplain fixed at Aleppo : the office has been adorned by the names of Bishop Frampton, of Maundrell, and of Pococke. Recently, Protestant Missionaries have visited the Levant, and some of them have begun to take up their residence in this interesting region.

Before we quit this brief topic, it may be useful to observe the footing on which Protestants are repre

sented to have stood about a hundred years ago, in their relation to the Native Christians. For this purpose, we shall select from the work already so often quoted the following passages, written in a lively style; and tending pointedly to illustrate the extremely disadvantageous ground which a Protestant must occupy in the view of Oriental Christians, whenever he allows, or is represented by others as allowing, questions of Christian Doctrine or Worship to be brought before the tribunal of mere Antiquity, Usage, or Tradition. One of the Jesuit Missionaries, writing from Aleppo, says

You will ask me, how the English and the Dutch conduct themselves. Here, as in England and Holland, they observe neither fast nor abstinence: but it occasions scandal. The people of the country say that they are not Christians; and the Turks themselves regard them as people without religion. They are sometimes affected with these reproaches; and, not being able to bear them, many of them during Lent eat meat only in secret. Those, who act like men of good faith, confess that they are extremely surprised to see that the religion of all the Christians of the East resembles that which they profess in scarcely any thing.

This marked difference gives us a great advantage over them. "It is," we say to them, "it is to the happy times of Christianity when nascent, that you would have us ascend in order to justify the traditions. It is to the first four centuries, that you appeal on the subject. Ask, then, all these people who surround you: they will answer, that in all their practices, (which are the same with ours,) they only follow the Apostolical Traditions-traditions which they received from the famous Antioch, which they regard as their Mother." This objection embarrasses our Protestants. They dare not advance that Confession, Fasting, Lent, Abstinence, the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, Purgatory, the Adoration of the Cross, the Invocation of the Saints, &c. are Papistical inventions, manufactured by Satan: their eyes, their very

eyes make them see the contrary. It is not here a question of Papists, or of Babylon, or of the Antichrist-great words these, which, pronounced with the hardy tone inspired by heresy, may have an imposing effect in Europe, but which signify nothing here: they must attack a thousand Christian Nations : they must renounce antiquity: they must condemn Antioch, and abandon the Apostles. This step it is difficult to take: and, therefore, these Gentlemen avoid, as much as possible, entering with us upon a dispute where they would have the worst; and, more wise than in France, they observe, on all contested points, and on all the rites of religion, a profound and respectful silence, well persuaded that they would not have on their side the suffrage of the Greek Church.

This conformity of sentiments between the Greek and Latin Churches sometimes makes upon right hearts a salutary impression. I was particularly acquainted, some years since, with a Minister of the Dutch Nation: he was a man of much talent: I often conversed with him, as he spoke Latin easily : he was about to set sail; but, before his departure, said to me in confidence, that he was going to Italy, there to weigh well an important affair, concerning which, what he had seen with his eyes had led him to make serious reflections which had changed him.

Persons of the pretended Reformed Religion would not dare here to dogmatize: at least they would not do it with impunity. Some time since, an English Minister, zealous for his sect, went to great expenses in printing a Catechism according to his fashion. He aimed at infusing into the spirit and heart of all the Christians the poison with which he was filled. But they trampled it under foot: they tore it, and burnt it, without the Missionaries being obliged to interfere in the least degree *.

* The learned Orientalist Pococke, who, from the year 1630 to 1636, was Chaplain to the English at Aleppo, subsequently published in England, (besides many other valuable pieces,) the Work "de Veritate Fidei Christianæ of Grotius, with whom he was personally acquainted; and, likewise, a Selection from the Liturgy of the Church of England-both in Arabic. The Treatise of Grotius has been reprinted by the Church Missionary Society, and

copies

The Christians of all the Nations of the East do not know what it is to doubt of the reality of the body of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist; and they have so great an attachment to their Fasts and their Lent, that they would die, rather than fail in them. They have also received from Antioch, their neighbour and their Mistress in the Faith, the custom of praying for the dead. The Invocation of the Saints, and in particular of Saint George, is, to them, so dear and so precious, that they would rather suffer themselves to be hacked to pieces, than renounce it.

It is impossible to add any thing to the profound veneration, which even the Turks have for Mary. They call her the Mother of the Great Prophet, Jesus+; and, in this quality, they reverence her to such a degree, as to impale those Jews who dare blaspheme against her. What a strange contrast! Men, born in the bosom of Christendom, refuse to Mary honours, which are rendered to her by the most implacable enemies of the Christian Name!

Further, the respect of Mahomedans is not limited to the Mother of our God: the Sepulchre of the Messiah is one of the objects of their pilgrimages of devotion. They regard those who have visited the Sepulchres of the two Prophets as men of extraordinary piety: and to this double pilgrimage, are attached certain marks of distinction. "Such an one

is a Saint," they would say: "he has been at Jerusalem and Mecca."

One of our merchants, who has resided a long time at the

copies have been circulated in the Levant. Of the Liturgy there is a Copy in the Library of the Society: it was printed A.D. 1674. It contains the Forms of Confession and Absolution, with several other prayers, and the Litany. The Author is ignorant what steps were taken for the circulation of this book, or what accounts may exist of its reception in the countries where Arabic is spoken. It seems, however, by no means improbable that the above-cited passage has reference to this pious and laudable effort of Pococke, to make the Christians of the East acquainted with the Church of England.

But they would not call her "Osóroxos, Deipara, Mother-ofGod:" here, therefore, this impassioned encomiast of the Turks has stretched the bow too far.

Holy City, and has seen, various times, these Turkish Pilgrims, related to me that they go upon their knees, that they crawl upon the ground from the gate to the Holy Sepulchre ; but, before entering there, they take off the bandage of their turban: this is with them a mark of ignominy, when done upon compulsion; and a mark of respect, when done voluntarily— that then they prostrate themselves; that they make profound obeisance, and strike their head upon the pavement. "This spectacle," he added, "has always edified me, and has sometimes touched me even to tears." The Grand Signior himself, among all the pompous and magnificent titles which he assumes in the orders which emanate from the throne, prides himself in adopting that of Protector and Preserver of the Holy City of Jerusalem. It is a consolation, not a little moving, for poor enslaved Christians to see their proud Masters do so much honour to the God whom they adore.

(Lettres Edifiantes et Curieuses, Vol. II. pp. 167–172.) It would be an easy task, were it requisite, to refute the various misrepresentations contained in the preceding extract. The supposed merit of the rigid abstinences, so much extolled, might well be contrasted with the moderate views of the ApostleOne believeth that he may eat all things; another, who is weak, eateth herbs. He, that eateth, eateth to the Lord; for he giveth God thanks: he, that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. (Rom. xiv. 2, 6.) The preference which this Jesuit gives to the Turk above the Protestant, might find its parallel, though in a higher degree, in those words, Not this man, but Barabbas: for he has more than half offered the right-hand of fellowship to the Mahomedans, who would rob Jesus Christ of his Divinity; while he, at the same time, calumniates those in England and in Holland, who honour, not less than the Romanists, Christ as the Son of God, and reject only their excessive worship, prac