China, with its teeming millions, has also been opened to the gospel.  The way had been marvellously prepared by Dr Morrison, who as early as 1807 had commenced the study of the language which he lived to master.  Accordingly, when the conquests of Britain had obtained admission for, and secured protection to the missionaries as well as to the merchants of all nations, the previous indefatigable labours of Morrison had provided, for the immediate use of the Church of Christ, a dictionary of the language, and a translation of the Word of God.  The Christian religion is tolerated by law since 1844, and may be professed freely by the natives.  The gospel is now advancing in that thickly-peopled land of patience and industry, and native preachers are already proclaiming to their countrymen the tidings of salvation.

Africa has witnessed changes still more wonderful.  The abolition of the British slave-trade in 1807, and of slavery in the British dominions in 1834, has removed immense barriers in the way of the gospel.  The whole coasts of Africa are being girdled with the light of truth.  It has penetrated throughout the south, where the French[A] and German Protestant Churches labour side by side with those of Britain to civilise the degraded Bushman, the low Hottentot, and warlike Kaffir.  The chapel in Sierra Leone, built from the planks of condemned slavers, and containing 1000 worshippers, is a type of the blessings brought through Christianity to injured Africa.

[Footnote A:  The missions of the French Protestant Church are situated inland from Port Natal, and along the river Caledon from its junction with the Orange River.  It has gathered upwards of 2000 Bechuanas into regular church-fellowship.]

Abyssinia has also been visited with every prospect of success.

And how glorious has been the triumph of the gospel throughout the whole Pacific!  In 1837, Williams was able to address royalty in these noble words—­“It must impart joy to every benevolent mind to know, that by the efforts of British Christians upwards of three hundred thousand of deplorably ignorant and savage barbarians, inhabiting the beautiful islands of the Pacific, have been delivered from a dark, debasing, and sanguinary idolatry, and are now enjoying the civilising influence, the domestic happiness, and the spiritual blessings which Christianity imparts.  In the island of Raratonga, which I discovered in 1823, there are upwards of 3000 children under Christian instruction daily; not a vestige of idolatry remains;[A] their language has been reduced to a system, and the Scriptures, with other books, have been translated.  But this is only one of nearly a hundred islands to which similar blessings have been conveyed.”  Tens of thousands of souls more have been added to this number since these words were written!  In no part of heathendom has the gospel produced, in so short a time, such wonderful fruit as in Polynesia.