on account of trade, preached Chrift, as they were able, to the Poles. Something divinely excellent appeared to be in Chriftianity; and the happy infection fpread from heart to heart. It reached, at length, Miciflaus, the king or duke of Poland; who divorced his feven wives, with whom he had cohabited, and married Dambrouca, the daughter of Boleflaus, the duke of Bohemia. He was bap- A.D. tized in the year 965; and, by the pious and cha- 965. ritable inftructions of his new spouse, was induced to exert his authority in the propagation of the Gospel through his dominions: in fine, Poland became a Christian nation; nor is it probable that this was no more than an external profeffion: that it was fo in fome inftances, there is no doubt; but, nevertheless, the circumstances of the narrative carry the appearance of fomething truly divine. Nor is that true, which Mosheim* afferts, that an inward change of affections and principles, was far from being an object of attention in this barbarous age. It feems most probable, that it was an object of attention in the miffionaries, and in thofe, who zealously received them. We have feen, in several inftances, an evidence of zeal in preaching, and a conftancy in fuffering, which can fcarce be explained on any other principle than that of godly fincerity. And we have lived to fee a refined age as indifferent concerning an inward change, as any barbarous period whatever.

In the year 955, Olga, the queen of Ruffia, A.D. failed from Kiow to Conftantinople, and received 955. baptifm, together with her attendants. On her return, the perfevered in the Chriftian religion, but could not prevail on her family and fubjects, to receive the fame: the Greek miffionaries, however, laboured ftill, and gradually fucceeded.

At

Chap. I. Cent. X.

+ Gibbon, Vol. V.

A.D. At length, Wolodomir, her grandfon, in the year 961.961, married Anna, fifter of the emperor Bafil, who, by her zealous importunity, prevailed on her fpoufe to receive Chriftianity. He was baptized in the year 987; and, from that time, Ruffia received a Chriftian establishment, and has ever fince confidered herself as a daughter of the Greek Church.

Ulric, fon of count Hucbald, born in 893, was placed at Augsburg under the care of Adalberon, bishop of that city. He was made, at length, bishop of Augsburg, by the emperor, Henry the fowler. He comforted his people, who had been plundered by the Hungarians: he avoided the court: he kept close to his flock, and was equally A.D. renowned for devotion, and for paftoral labours. He died about 973. 973

The

Thus, in an age of proverbial darkness, that illuftrious prophecy continued to receive its accomplishment; "Kings fhall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nurfing mothers*." regular and civilized governments in the world fuftained fuch dreadful calamities from the irruption of pagan nations, on all fides, that their encouragement of Chriftian miffions was equally humane and prudential. The precepts of the Gospel were found alone effectual to meliorate the difpofitions of barbarians; and, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, no doubt, this was the happy effect on the minds of many.-But, it will still be faid, "the converfion of a great number was only nominal, and compulfory methods were employed, which are by no means adapted to the genius of the Gospel." It must be allowed, that the latter of thefe affertions is ftrictly true, and the former, in many inftances, but by no means in all. The efforts

* Ifaiah xlix.

efforts of the tenth and the three preceding centuries, to extend Chriftianity, had their blemishes, which have been malignantly infifted on, and even exaggerated by modern writers. Defective, however, as thefe efforts were, they form the principal glory of those times; and partly, by evident proofs, and a detail of circumstances, and partly by analogy and the nature of things, they appear to have been attended with the effufion of the Divine Spirit, the genuine conversion of numbers, and the improvement of human fociety. The virtues, of many at least, of the miffionaries are above any encomium, which I can give; though they were born in rude ages, and are configned to contempt and oblivion by polite hiftorians, who lavish all their praises on heroes and politicians. If, however, the labours of an obfcure individual may attract the attention of the publick, the names of Boniface, Anfcarius, Adalbert, Unni, and others of the fame clafs, shall be honoured among men, and the work of propagating the Gospel fhall appear laudable in an extreme degree. It must appear fo to all, who defire that the name of Jesus should be honoured through the earth, and that the power of his grace should be felt in every place, and in every heart. But to what lengths will not fcepticism proceed? It has even been advanced, that the attempt to propagate Chriftianity, without the confent of the government established in every country, is unlawful in its nature. A pofition fo injurious to the character of many of the best and wifeft men, whom it behoves us to celebrate in this history, and fo conveniently favourable to the selfish, avaricious, indolent spirit of nominal Christians, will deferve to be inveftigated and expofed in its ge

nuine colours.

VOL. III.

T

CHAP.

CHA P. III.

AN APOLOGY FOR CHRISTIAN MISSIONS.

TH

HE commiffion, which our Saviour gave to his Apostles, a little before his afcenfion, forms of itself the strongest apology for the practice of Chriftian miffionaries in all "Go ye, ages. and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft: teaching them to obferve all things, whatfoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world*."

It may not be faid, that this commiffion of evangelizing all nations is restricted to the Apostles, because He, who gave these directions, declares, He will always be with thofe, who obey them, to the end of the world. The commiffion is then as. much in force at this day, as it was in the first age of Christianity; and will continue in force, till time shall be no more. The promise of divine fupport, to encourage the miffionaries in the profecution of a work fo arduous and fo difficult, extends to all ages, and would be perfectly inapplicable to those ages, if any fuch there were, which fhould have no right to propagate the Gospel.

"Is every person then, calling himself a Chriftian, authorized to preach the Gofpel among the heathen nations?" Not fo: nor is every perfon called a Christian authorized to preach in Chriftian countries. Certain qualifications and endowments, and, above all, the real and genuine influence of the Holy Spirit, are neceffary for this purpose.

* Matthew xxviii. 19, 20.

Το

To define and to afcertain these in particular cafes, enter not into the fubject before us. Suffice it to fay, that, however, in point of prudence and expediency, it be proper to procure, if practicable, the confent and concurrence of the government of the country, which is the object of the miffion, fuch confent and concurrence is not neceffary as a legitimate qualification of a miffionary, who fhould undertake to evangelize pagan countries.

Our

Lord well knew, that fuch confent was not attainable at the time in which he gave this commiffion, in any country under heaven. He mentions no fuch condition, nor did the Apostles conceive the neceffity of fuch a licenfe. It is well known, on the contrary, that they perfifted in their miffion, not only without, but also against the express prohibitions of all governments, whether Jewish or Gentile. The nature and reasonableness of Chriftianity itself is fuch, that, wherever it is fairly exhibited, in connection with its proper proofs and evidences, thofe, who hear it, are bound in confcience to obey it, magiftrates, as well as others; and, as we have feen, the magiftrate himself not only may, but ought to promote it, for the good of fociety *.

"But the Apostles wrought miracles; and therefore, though they had a right to propagate Chriftianity, others who do not fo, have no right to preach, except with the confent of the government." It does not appear, that the evidence of their commiffion refted wholly on miracles, though it must be confeffed thefe formed a ftriking part of it, and were afforded by Divine Providence, in order to facilitate the progrefs of the then infantreligion. But if, what no ferious Chriftian will

See Chap. XVII. Vol. II.

deny,