PREFACE.

In the course of his personal missionary labours in foreign lands, and whilst pursuing his studies and researches in connexion with the publication of his "History of Wesleyan Missions," "Missionary Memorials," and "Missionary Stories," the writer was brought in contact with a noble band of Pioneer Missionaries who appeared deserving of more notice than they had hitherto received from the Christian public. Some of these were his faithful fellow-labourers and colleagues, who nobly fell by his side in the holy conflict with sin and Satan in the high places of the Mission field, whilst he was mercifully spared to return to his native land. Others had laboured long and well, and finished their course with joy, without any fitting record being made of their toils and triumphs; whilst a few had been honoured with copious biographies not easily accessible to the general reader.

As a humble memorial of the self-sacrificing zeal and unwearied labours of a select number of these Christian heroes, who took a prominent part in planting the standard of the cross in the "regions beyond," this volume is now published. If it should be the means of stimulating the zeal of the present race of young Missionaries who have entered into the labours of the men of God whose virtues and achievements it records; or if its perusal should tend to stir up the friends of Missions generally to more entire devotedness to the work, and to unceasing sympathy, prayer, and effort

for the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom; the object of the author will be answered, and God alone shall have all the praise.

Most of the devoted servants of God of whose labours and characters brief sketches are given in this volume, have long since passed away to their rest and reward in heaven. They are consequently far beyond the reach of human praise or censure, and we can only aspire to follow them as they followed Christ. A few, however, are still spared to serve their generation by the will of God. The honourable career and useful labours of these venerable Ministers of Christ we have sketched with a trembling and, we trust, with a delicate hand; and we beg to assure them of the purity of our motives, and that we esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Since we began to write, one of the number has been removed to the "better country." May we who are still spared to labour in the vineyard of common Lord and Master catch the falling mantles of the ascending Elijahs; and, being baptized afresh with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, may we prove ourselves worthy followers of those who "through faith and patience now inherit the promises!" Then, if found faithful unto death, we shall receive a crown of glory which fadeth not away. "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."

our

Sedbergh, Yorkshire, July, 1871.

W. M.

of the world. It was before His ascension that Jesus gave utterance to that remarkable saying: "Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

It would be a very interesting study to trace the rise and progress, the conflicts and triumphs, of the Christian religion from its small "beginning at Jerusalem " to its full development; but we propose at present to direct attention chiefly to the instrumentality employed by the great Head of the Church in the promulgation of His glorious Gospel, as exemplified in a few specimens of the zealous and devoted men who at different times have taken the lead in the missionary enterprise. Since the Lord first gave to His disciples the great commission to "go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature," a vast variety of talent has been employed in the. Christian ministry, and much of the providence and grace of God has been displayed in connexion with the labours of pioneer evangelists in various parts of the world. Hence a few brief historical sketches of some of those noble and courageous men of God who have, from time to time, gone forth to plant the standard of the cross in heathen lands, regardless of the dangers and discomforts to which they were exposed, can scarcely fail to prove interesting to the friends of Missions. The careful study of such records is calculated to excite our admiration at the wonderful adaptation of the means employed by the Almighty for the accomplishment of His purposes of grace and mercy to our sinful race; and at the same time it may serve to stimulate us to increased personal effort, in our respective spheres, for the advancement of the Redeemer's king