During this century, Christianity was extended in the East, among some barbarous nations on the Euxine Sea, and on the Danube, by the active zeal of the Bishops of Constantinople, while in the West, Remigias Bishop of Rheims, was successful among the Gauls, and Columbus an Irish monk, with the Picts and Scots. "The conversions of this age," says an able writer, "are much to be suspected." "Wondrous conversions of whole nations increased the fame of the monkish apostles, who ministered baptism to them by thousands, when a queen was gained, and a complaisant monarch, yielding to her solicitations, ordered the conversion of his subjects. Left in all their former savageness of manners, licentiousness and ignorance, the repetition of a formula taught them, and the sign of the cross, admitted them with facility, within the Church's pale. Except the change of name, little perceptible difference appeared between the christian convert, and the Pagan. It may be hoped, however, that amidst many tares there was some wheat. This at least is true, the christian religion in almost any shape is preferable to the idolatries of the Heathen.

In the next century Christianity was propagated with much zeal and success by the Nestorians who dwelt in Syria, Persia, and India, among the fierce and barbarous nations who lived in the remotest borders and deserts of Asia. By the labours of that sect, the knowledge of the Gospel was, about the year six hundred and thirty seven, extended to the remote empire of China, the northern parts of which, are said to have abounded with Christians before. Zeal for the cause of Christ also appeared in the West. Missionaries from England, Scotland, and Ireland issued forth to convert their neighbours. Of these the famous Willebrod an Anglo Saxon and his eleven associates form an excellent group. By their unwearied exertions the knowledge of Christianity, such as they taught, spread through Bavaria, Friesland, Cimbria, and Denmark.

* Hawies' Church Hist. Vol. ii. p. 30.

Aidan, a monk of Ireland, was likewise a very zealous and successful missionary at this period. Oswald a British prince, who bad been baptized and educated in Ireland, sent for him. Oswald himself acted as his interpreter with the people, for Aidan understood English but imperfectly. Such was the zeal of this monarch to promote religion in the north of England! Thus encouraged, more Irish ministers came over.

The

Gospel was preached, and many Churches erected. Aidan was a bright example of godliness. He laboured to convert infidels and strengthen the faithful. He employed himself, with his associates, in the daily study of the Scriptures, and was remarkably liberal to the poor. The character of this missionary, says Milner, would have done honour to the purest times.

But while the church was thus extending her empire, or, at least her nominal dominion, abroad, a formidable enemy appeared almost in her midst. This was no other than Mahomet the Arabian Impostor, who, like the Simoon of his native desert, swept over the land, carrying destruction and death in his course. With talents qualified for the undertaking, he had conceived the vast project of introducing a new religion. By a strange mixture of Judaism, Paganism, and Christianity, taking from each, what was best adapted to please the carnal heart, he succeeded in establishing a powerful system, which contained within itself the principles of its own propagation, and was calculated to sweep all other religions from the earth. It has, in fact, prevailed over a considerable part of the Eastern World, to the extinction of the Christian name in many places, where flourishing churches once stood; and it remains to the present day, at once a monument of the depravity, and the credulity of the human heart.

"The eighth century," says Milner, "was an age of Missionaries." Their character and their success, form, indeed, almost the only shining_picture, amidst the gathering darkness. The same Popes, who opposed the grace of God in their own country, supported pious

Missionaries among the heathen. Of these, Winfrid an English Benedictine Monk, afterwards known by the name of Boniface, is most distinguished. He resided in the monastery of Neutcell, where he became acquainted with sacred and profane learning. At the age of thirty, he was ordained priest; he laboured with much zeal in preaching the word, and longed to be employed as a missionary. Receiving a commission from the Pope, he went into Bavaria and Thuringia, in the first of which he reformed the churches, and in the second, was successful in converting the heathen. From these countries, he went into Friesland, and cooperated for a season with Willebrod. Hence he departed to Hesse, and in many parts of Germany erected the standard of truth. He obtained several assistants from England, who dispersed themselves in the villages. He also wrote home for books; and by a circular letter to the British Bishops and people, he entreated their prayers for the success of his missions. He continued full of zeal, to the age of seventy five, when going to confirm some converts, in the plain of Dockum, he beheld not the converts whom he expect ed, but a troop of angry pagans, armed with shields and lances, who attacked him furiously, and killed the whole company, fifty two in number, besides Boniface

himself.

Other missionaries might be mentioned, who did honour to themselves, and to the cause of truth. Villehad, Bishop of Bremen, was called the Apostle of Saxony. He exposed himself to great hazards, overcame the ferocious spirit of the infidels, and spread among them the knowledge of the Gospel. In his dying moments he said to his weeping friends, "Withhold me not from going to God. These sheep I recommend to him who entrusted them with me, and whose mercy is able to protect them."

Liefuvyn, an Englishman, was distinguished by his labours in Germany. He ventured to appear before an assembly of the Saxons, and, while they were sac

rificing to their idols, he, with a loud voice exhorted them to turn from those vanities, and worship the liv ing God. His zeal came near costing him his life; but he was suffered to depart, on the remonstrances of Buto, one of their chiefs, who contended that it would be unreasonable to treat an ambassador of the Great God, with less respect than they did one of any neighbouring nation. In the mean time the arms of Charlemagne prevailing over the Saxons, the labours of the Missionary were facilitated, and he continued to preach among that people until his death. His success, however was small, compared with that of the Emperor, who, by the terror of his army, when no other method would succeed, drove the heathen by thousands into the Christian Church. Such was the spirit of the times. Those, who would not submit to water baptism, were baptized in blood!

CHAPTER III.

Bulgarians receive the Gospel-Success of Ansearius in the North--Two Turkish Chiefs converted-Duke of Poland baptised--Russia Christian-Suen-Otho persecutes Christianity in Denmark-He repentsNorway forced to become Christian-Greenland-Zeal of Othe the Great- Tartars converted-Baleful influence of Mahometanism-Crusades--Military missions-Christianity declines in the East-Constantinople taken.-Reformation.

In the ninth century we find ourselves rapidly advancing into the thick gloom of the dark ages. Some rays of missionary light, however, continue to penetrate the cloud. The Bulgarians, a savage people, received the Gospel. A sister of their king, Bogoris, had been taken captive in a military excursion and brought to Constantinople, where she embraced Chris

tianity. Upon her return to her own country, she gave strong evidence that her change of religion had been more than nominal. She was struck with grief and compassion, to see the king, her brother, enslaved to idolatry; and used the most potent arguments in her power to convince him of the vanity of his worship. Bogoris was affected by her arguments, but was not prevailed upon to embrace the Gospel until a famine and plague appearing in Bulgaria, he was persuaded to pray to the God of the Christians. The plague ceased. There was something so remarkable in this event, that Bogoris was induced to send to Constantinople for missionaries; and at length with many of his people to receive baptism.

In the course of this century, Christianity was first preached in the frozen regions of Scandinavia, and on the shores of the Baltic. Anscarius, a monk of Cor. bie, was the principal instrument in this work. Under countenance of the Emperor Lewis, son and successor of Charlemagne, he undertook, with some others, a mission to Denmark. On his passage to Sweden the ship was taken by pirates. He was rob bed of all his effects, including forty volumes of books. After many difficulties, however, he arrived in that country, where he was favourably received by the king, and allowed to preach. Success attended his pious exertions. By preaching, by bringing up children in the Christian faith, and by redeeming captives, for instruction in the truth, he brought numbers to embrace Christianity. From Sweden he finally penetrated into Denmark, where he planted the Gospel with some success. After having been raised to the Arch-Bishopric of Hamburg, and the whole north, this truly Christian missionary spent the remainder of his life in frequently travelling among the Danes, Cimbrians, and Swedes, to form new churches, to confirm and establish those that had been already planted, and otherwise to promote the cause of Christianity. He continued in the