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ALTHOUGH the sale of two impressions of this Work, in the space of little more than a year, would` have authorised the issue of a third, of the same size and price, the Publisher now sends forth a Cheap Edition, with the hope that it may contribute to a still more extended circulation, and to a consequent furtherance of the great cause to which the volume is devoted.

April 10, 1843.

TO THE

SECOND EDITION.

THE Author begs to acknowledge the favour with which his Volume has been received by the friends of Missions, who, in less than three months, have called for a Second Edition. This circumstance shows that the Great Cause is gaining ground.

The respect which the Author feels for upright literary censorship, induces him to correct an error into which a writer, in the Glasgow Christian Journal, has somewhat strangely fallen. He considers that this Volume "bears evident marks of having been written for the Prize on Missions," and, on this assumption, adds, that "it would certainly have been more ingenuous in Dr. Campbell to have acknowledged this to be the case, than to pass it off as a Work written expressly to illustrate the Life and Labours of Williams."

The charge thus insinuated is entirely without foundation. With a single exception, the Author never wrote for any Prize. Not a sentence of this Volume was penned till the time fixed for the delivery of the Mission PrizeEssays had expired; and the printing of it was far advanced before the Adjudicators had made their award.

The idea of the " Philosophy of Missions" first entered the Author's mind in the Summer of 1840, when preparing for the press the third edition of "The Missionary's Farewell." To that little publication he then appended an account of the Martyrdom of Williams,

which concluded with the following words :—“ The Writer would fain disburden his heart of some portion of the thoughts which oppress it; but he is restrained by his present limits, and must, therefore, reserve his views of the life, labours, death, and character of his honoured friend for another publication." This Work was shortly after begun, and would have been finished much sooner, had not the Author's attention been diverted by the Bible-Monopoly Question. It was thus delayed till the beginning of the present year, when its appearance simultaneously with the Prize Essays may have induced the supposition of a common origin. A comparison, however, between the contents of this Volume and the published conditions of the Prize Essays, will show the conjecture to be utterly groundless.

The Prize Essays and the " Martyr of Erromanga” differ essentially in their matter, form, tone, and general character. But, had the fact been otherwise, the Author would have deemed it no disgrace for his Book to fail in a contest where only such Works as those of the Rev. Dr. Harris and the Rev. R. W. Hamilton succeeded. The Author feels, at the same time, not a little gratified to find, that several of his leading views are cordially entertained and powerfully enforced in the Prize Volumes; and he hopes that, as they and the present publication are in no respect rivals, they will run together in harmony, yielding to each other mutual support, and, in their several measures, tending to promote that object which is, above all others, dear to their Authors. London, April 3, 1842.

PREFACE.

THE source of all evil in our world is ignorance of God, or enmity against him. While this enmity and that ignorance remain, and in proportion as they preponderate, sin and misery will continue to exist and to prevail. The only means, therefore, of curing the ma* ladies of human nature, and of rectifying the disorders of society, is, to substitute knowledge for ignorance, and love for enmity. This will effect a recovery, and restore tranquillity, complete, universal, and permanent. The result of this substitution will be true and perfect civilization, comprehending every thing necessary to elevate, adorn, and bless mankind-the resurrection of buried intellect the enthronement of enlightened reason-the subjugation of unhallowed passion-the infusion of real humanity-the extinction of war with its calamities-the establishment of peace with its blessings-the annihilation of all that is hurtful to man, and the introduction of all that is contributory to his happiness, liberty,-literature,-arts,-science,-commerce, just legislation,-and international harmony. Hence arise the surpassing glory of the Missionary

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