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SKETCH 
 
 OF 
 
 ANTONIO BISHALLANY, 
 
 A SYRIAN OF MOUNT LEBANON. 
 
 BY REV. CHARLES WHITEHEAD. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE 
 AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, 
 
 150 NASSAU-STREET, NEW YORK. 
 
 
 
f 4 £ 
 
^f 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Birth — Mountain home — Religious sects — Family flight 5 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 New home — Beirut — Divine providence — Purchase and 
 study of the Bible — Persecution — Trial and wonderful 
 deliverance — Bible for the people 19 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Becomes dragoman — Wishes to be a missionary — Pleasing 
 incidents — Embarks for America — Voyage — Arrival at 
 Boston— Comes to New York — Love for the Scriptures — 
 Failing health — Visit to Richfield Springs • 61 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Enters Amenia Seminary — Returns to the city — Meets with 
 Italians in Union-square — Discussion on Popery — Deep 
 interest in Catholics — Letter — Increasing sickness — Cor- 
 respondence 95 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Returns to Amenia — Correspondence — Bids adieu to the 
 Seminary, and abandons the hope of being a mission- 
 ary — Deep affliction and comfort —Removed to the Hos- 
 
 -: ,-s ■} 
 
 
4 CONTENTS. 
 
 pital — Resignation — Letter to his brother — Comforting 
 letters from Christian friends — Strong faith — Death and 
 funeral 137 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Conclusion - - 200 
 
 Instructive Lessons 207 
 
 Scripture Selections by Antonio 228 
 
ANTONIO BISHALLANY, 
 
 A SYRIAN OF MOUNT LEBANON 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Antonio Bishallany was born August 22, 
 1827, in the village of Salima, on mount Leb- 
 anon. This mountain is said to be three* 
 hundred miles in circumference, and its lofti- 
 est peak not less than ten thousand feet high ; 
 some parts of it being covered with perpetual 
 snow. Its sides and the valleys lying be- 
 tween its various ridges are remarkable for 
 their fertility, and abound in fruit and trees 
 of beautiful shape and foliage. The almond- 
 tree, the fig, the olive, the mulberry, and the 
 vine grow luxuriantly, and yield their deli- 
 cious products in abundance. Here also is 
 seen a peculiar tree resembling somewhat 
 
6 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 in appearance the apple-tree, though more 
 bushy and thickset, with darker and longer 
 leaves. It is called the kharnb, and bears a 
 pod which is nsed as a food for swine, and 
 with which, it is said, the poor prodigal 
 wonld haye filled his belly. Here too grows 
 the sycarnore-tree, not the one which bears 
 that name with us, commonly called the but- 
 ton-wood, but a tree bearing several crops of 
 figs during the year, usually planted by the 
 wayside, and easily climbed; so that Zacche- 
 us found a convenient position among the 
 branches of the sycamore, to wait for the 
 passing crowd and catch a sight of the great 
 Redeemer. Travellers speak too of groves 
 of pines, the box, the fir-tree, and the m\- - 
 tie — rich evergreens, that are pleasant to the 
 eye, and give to the mountain its deep ver- 
 dant tinge and velvet richness, when gazed 
 upon with delight by those who visit the 
 holy land and behold the goodly Lebanon. 
 
 The mountain is especially celebrated for 
 its large and valuable cedars. But of these 
 noble trees comparatively few remain. To 
 them the psalmist compares the Christian. 
 "The righteous shall flourish like the palm- 
 
MOUNT LEBANON. 7 
 
 tree ; lie shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon." 
 Tlie sacred Scriptures often speak of Leba- 
 non. Some of Isaiah's most elegant imagery 
 is derived from its scenery; and how must 
 Moses have conceived of its beauteous aspect, 
 when he prayed the Lord that he might be 
 permitted to pass over Jordan, that he might 
 "see the good land beyond, that goodly 
 mountain, and Lebanon." 
 
 A little village on this celebrated mountain 
 was the birthplace and early home of Anto- 
 nio. Here his young mind unfolded amid 
 the boldest of nature's works, and acquired 
 that vigor and independence of thought for 
 which he was afterwards distinguished. And 
 here, among flowers and trees and fruits, he 
 gained the first conceptions of that great and 
 benevolent God whom he so ardently loved 
 when, in after-years, he beheld him in the 
 light of revelation. 
 
 Antonio's father was a dresser of the vine 
 and olive. The vine was extensively culti- 
 vated in Lebanon, and in other parts of Pal- 
 estine. We read of the grapes of Eshcol, 
 which the men who went to spy out the land 
 of Canaan brought back ; and as one cluster 
 
8 ANTONIO-BISHALLANY. 
 
 was carried by two men on a staff, we pre- 
 sume it was very large, and that the grapes 
 of that country attained an uncommon degree 
 of perfection. The Saviour, when on earth, 
 often drew his illustrations from the yine. 
 
 The wine it produced was also well known 
 in the holy land, and furnished the scriptu- 
 ral writers an expressive figure by which to 
 represent the rich provision of the gospel. 
 Hence the prophet cries, "Ho, every one that 
 thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that 
 hath no money ; come ye, buy, and eat ; yea, 
 come, buy wine and milk without money and 
 without price." 
 
 What were the character and disposition of 
 Antonio during his boyhood, the writer has 
 no means of learning. He was probably of 
 sprightly disposition, active in his movements, 
 and possessing in«a high degree the playful- 
 ness and ardor usually characteristic of that 
 period of life. Not unlikely he often accom- 
 panied his father and brothers in their cus- 
 tomary occupation, and either watched them 
 as they prepared the soil or trained and 
 pruned the vines, or aided them in the pleas- 
 ing employment. And we may readily sup- 
 
PARENTAGE. 9 
 
 pose that lie wandered occasionally among 
 the hills, climbed the trees, and gathered the 
 fruits that hung in ripening clusters in the 
 vicinity of his home. At one time he might 
 probably have been seen sitting beneath one 
 of the tall cedars of his native forest, and at 
 another standing upon a projecting rock, 
 and looking out upon the blue Mediterranean, 
 while its freshening breezes fanned his face 
 and strengthened his opening manhood. 
 
 His parents were poor, but honest and in- 
 dustrious, and gained a humble subsistence 
 by their daily toil. Although originally of 
 Arab lineage, Antonio was not a Mussulman, 
 but a devotee of the Maronite or Romish 
 church, which in Syria contends with the 
 Greek for supremacy, while both are in per- 
 petual danger from the inroads of the Mo- 
 hammedan pashas, who lord it over the 
 mixed races that now occupy the glorious 
 land of Palestine. Antonio's earliest recol- 
 lections were of hard labor, scanty fare, and 
 constant danger. First the ruling pasha, 
 then his horde of underlings, and lastly the 
 Roinish priest, had to be paid their dues, 
 legal or illegal. In this way the hard earn- 
 
10 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 ings of Antonio's father were consumed, and 
 his family kept in poverty. 
 
 How wonderful the purposes of divine 
 grace! In this family, thus poor and op- 
 pressed by civil and ecclesiastical power, in 
 the obscure recesses of an eastern mountain, 
 where ignorance and superstition held their 
 sway, and the members of that family were 
 all in gloomy vassalage to a false religion — 
 even there, amid circumstances so unfavora- 
 ble to piety, God had his chosen child in the 
 person of poor Antonio the Syrian Arab, who, 
 though then himself a bigoted Maronite, was 
 yet to be enlightened by the gospel, and be- 
 come a faithful Mend and advocate of the 
 truth of Christianity. The Lord hath his 
 hidden ones. Like the precious gem, they 
 may now be imbedded in the gross material 
 of earth, and their value be unknown ; but in 
 his own time He will apply the instruments of 
 truth and grace, and so divest them of their 
 outer covering of depraved habits, and so 
 polish and brighten the inward graces of 
 their hearts as to render them brilliant stones 
 in his holy temple. Thus God illustrates 
 his wisdom and grace, and makes manifest 
 
MARONITES. 11 
 
 that in the conversion of souls " it is not by 
 might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith 
 the Lord of hosts." 
 
 Syria has always been occupied by differ- 
 ent tribes, who have their different religions. 
 Sectarian prejudices and animosities prevail 
 between them, and often they become in- 
 volved in civil war. The Moslems or Turks 
 are the ruling class, and number eight hun- 
 dred thousand. Besides these are the Greeks, 
 the Armenians, the Nusairiyeh, the Maron- 
 ites, and the Druzes, with other smaller 
 tribes, making in all a population of more 
 than 1,610,000. In addition to these are the 
 Arabs, who roam over the deserts, the de- 
 scendants of Ishmael of whom it was pre- 
 dicted, "He will be a wild man; his hand 
 will be against every man, and e^ery man's 
 hand against him." 
 
 The Maronites, with whom the Bishallany 
 family were connected, were a numerous sect 
 on mount Lebanon, comprising, it is said, 
 between two and three hundred thousand 
 souls. They derived their name from John 
 Maro, an ecclesiastic who lived in the char- 
 acter of a monk in the famous convent of 
 
12 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 Saint Maro, upon the borders of the Orontes. 
 For some centuries this people were excluded 
 from the Eomish church, for holding the 
 doctrines of a sect called Monothelites. But 
 renouncing this heresy, they were readmitted 
 in the year 1182 to the communion of the 
 Roman church, and became again subject to 
 the Pope. They have a patriarch who re- 
 sides in the monastery of Cannubin, on mount 
 Lebanon, and assumes the title of Patriarch 
 of Antioch, and the name of Peter, as if de- 
 sirous of being considered the successor of 
 the apostle. Antonio could speak from his 
 own experience of their exclusive and perse- 
 cuting spirit, of the wall of separation exist- 
 ing between them and Protestant Christians, 
 and of the impossibility of any Maronite re- 
 nouncing his faith without incurring the 
 severest anathemas. 
 
 The Druzes are about 100,000 in popula- 
 tion, and live chiefly in villages in the higher 
 parts of Lebanon. Their religion is a mix- 
 ture of idolatry with fanciful speculation, 
 transplanted from Egypt to Syria by Derazy, 
 from whom the sect derived its name. The 
 most celebrated of their sacred places is on 
 
DRUZES. 13 
 
 the top of a liill just above Hasbeiya. Druze 
 Khulwehs, as their sacred places are called, 
 have nothing of the appearance of places of 
 worship, and are hardly distinguished from 
 common dwelling-houses. Cleanliness, sim- 
 plicity, and quiet are their distinguishing 
 characteristics; and the visitor is received 
 with a hospitality so urgent, that it is gener- 
 ally impossible, without absolute rudeness, 
 to make even the shortest call without tast- 
 ing something. Intoxicating drinks and 
 tobacco, however, are never offered. These 
 articles are banished from every Khulweh, 
 and the initiated by their vow of initiation 
 are the strictest teetotalers. 
 
 Between the Druzes and the Maronites, to 
 whom the Bishallany family belonged, there 
 existed a strong aversion, leading to occa- 
 sional feuds and bloody conflicts. One cause 
 of this ill-feeling was the circumstance of 
 the Druzes of Wady et Teim having joined 
 their brethren of Hauren in a rebellion 
 against Ibrahim Pasha, the Turkish governor. 
 The pasha called to his assistance the Chris- 
 tians of Lebanon: namely, those connected 
 with the Grfcek church, and the Maronites. 
 
14 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 A decisive battle was fought near Shiba, in 
 which the Drnzes were defeated. As a con- 
 sequence, the old and celebrated Khulwehs 
 were plundered; the sacred and secret ady- 
 tum was entered, and the contents of several 
 chests of books were scattered through the 
 country and over the world. The Druzes of 
 course were deeply exasperated by this treat- 
 ment, and when they subsequently obtained 
 the ascendency, they made the Christians 
 pay dearly for this trespass upon the rights 
 and property of their neighbors. The gov- 
 ernor disarmed the Christians; and then, 
 backed hj 1,800 Druzes, he exacted indem- 
 nities for what they had lost by plunder, and 
 imposed a heavy fine upon all who had been 
 known to take a book. The result is, says a 
 missionary writer from whom we have de- 
 rived these facts, a deep-seated enmity 
 between the two sects, which has descended 
 into the heart of every man, woman, and 
 child. 
 
 The Bishallany family were destined to 
 share in the infuriated vengeance of the 
 Druzes ; for however humble and inoffensive 
 they were, nothing could shelter them from 
 
DOMESTIC RUIN. 15 
 
 the wrath of an enemy still burning with re- 
 sentment. Like angry wolves, these bold 
 and cruel mountaineers fixed their eyes upon 
 this quiet little flock, and were eager for their 
 prey. 
 
 In 1837, when Antonio was about ten years 
 of age, the family were startled by the shouts 
 of the enemy now rushing upon the prem- 
 ises with overpowering numbers. To resist 
 was useless, and the only alternative was to 
 escape for their lives. Terrified and dis- 
 mayed, they forsook their home, and avoid- 
 ing the murderous weapons of their blood- 
 thirsty foes, they hastened to some place of 
 security. In the meantime the Druzes set 
 fire to their dwelling-house, and laid w r aste 
 and destroyed the vineyard and olive gar- 
 dens, which Antonio's father and brothers 
 had so carefully cultivated, and on which 
 they depended for a humble support. 
 
 Poor Antonio, how sad must have been 
 his feelings when fleeing from the home of 
 his childhood, where every tree and rock 
 and gushing spring were endeared to him. 
 How his heart must have sickened when, 
 looking back, he beheld the little cottage 
 
16 ANTONIO BISHALLANY 
 
 where lie had played and enjoyed so many 
 happy days enveloped in flames, and be- 
 coming a heap of smouldering ruins; and with 
 what painful regret must he have thought of 
 the vineyard and olive grounds which had 
 kindly yielded their fruit as the reward of his 
 father's toil, now trodden down and destroyed 
 by the ruthless spoilers. Both to him and 
 to the rest of the family, the disaster that 
 had thus suddenly overtaken them must 
 have seemed truly calamitous, and we can- 
 not think of this exiled, fugitive, houseless 
 family, and especially of the afflicted parents, 
 hastening down the pathway of the mount, 
 seeking a place of refuge and of rest, without 
 emotions of sympathy and sorrow. 
 
 We often learn from experience and ob- 
 servation that things which appeared to be 
 adverse and trying, turn to the highest ad- 
 vantage of those who are affected by them. 
 There is a wise and gracious Providence that 
 guides all events. Circumstances that seem- 
 ed to be accidental, trials incurred through 
 our own imprudence, or inflicted by the in- 
 strumentality of others, are controlled by 
 the unseen hand of the Lord, who can bring 
 
WAYS OF PROVIDENCE. It 
 
 good out of evil. Men may persecute and 
 injure the Christian, but as in the case of 
 Joseph, while they meant it for evil, God 
 meant it for good. A person may meet with 
 reverse of fortune, be disappointed in the 
 accomplishment of some design, and at the 
 time most deeply lament the occurrence that 
 seemed so unfavorable to his interest; but 
 presently he is impelled by this very fail- 
 ure of his projected plans, to take a step 
 that leads him to prosperity and happiness. 
 A severe affliction comes upon him, but God 
 sanctifies it to his spiritual advantage; a 
 new course is given to the current of his 
 thoughts and feelings ; a new purpose of life 
 is formed, and a field of usefulness and hap- 
 piness is opened, of which he had formed no 
 conception. A young man who has no seri- 
 ous thoughts of God, or of his own soul, vol- 
 unteers in the service of his country. He is 
 wounded in battle, and carried to a hospital. 
 There he comes under Christian influences. 
 A religious tract is placed in his hand, or a 
 minister of Jesus speaks to him of Christ and 
 the great salvation. The truth finds entrance 
 into his heart. He accepts of offered mercy, 
 
 BishaJlany. 2 
 
18 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 ■ 
 
 devotes himself to the service of God, and 
 goes forth to live a new and holy life. A 
 reckless son who profanes the Sabbath, never 
 visits the house of God, or reads the sacred 
 word, tired of the restraints of home, for- 
 sakes his father's house and embarks upon 
 the ocean. The vessel is wrecked, and he is 
 cast upon a foreign shore. There he finds 
 a mission station, and taken kindly by the 
 hand, is induced to go and listen to the gos- 
 pel message. The Lord opens his heart. 
 He repents and believes, and goes home at 
 length to make his parents rejoice that this 
 their son, who was dead, is alive again ; that 
 he who was lost, is found. 
 
 Thus it will be seen in the progress of this 
 narrative, that the hand of God directed the 
 trying events that befell Antonio; that he 
 made the wrath of man to praise him, and 
 caused this sudden calamity to be among the 
 "all things " which work together for good to 
 them who love God, and are the called accord- 
 ing to his purpose. 
 
AT BEIRUT. 19 
 
 CHAPTEE II. 
 
 After the Bishallany family fled from 
 their home before the infuriated Druzes, 
 they took refuge in a village on the Lebanon 
 range, not far distant from the city of Bei- 
 rut. About this time the father died, and 
 the support of the remaining members of the 
 household devolved on the elder brother. 
 Their means of living being very limited, 
 Antonio, not wishing to be a burden to his 
 brothers, was anxious to obtain some situa- 
 tion in which he might be useful, and at the 
 same time procure an honest livelihood. In 
 the providence of God an opening was pre- 
 sented to him by the Italian consul at Bei- 
 rut, who proposed employing him as his at- 
 tendant. Antonio was pleased to accept the 
 offer, and engaged with cheerfulness in this 
 service. He was willing to employ his tal- 
 ents in any honest calling, and felt it to be no 
 degradation to serve in a capacity in which 
 
20 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 he could secure some remuneration without 
 doing violence to his conscience. He was a 
 youth of high-toned feeling and lofty aspi- 
 rations, and would gladly have acceded to 
 some more advantageous proposal ; but the 
 present position being placed within his 
 reach, and being in circumstances of need, 
 he availed himself of a berth which proved 
 to be both pleasant and useful. He was 
 faithful and diligent in the performance of 
 his duties, ever active and obliging, and by 
 his general good conduct gained the confi- 
 dence and kind feeling of the consul, whom 
 he accompanied to Smyrna and to different 
 islands of the Mediterranean. 
 
 Beirut is an ancient city, and was from an 
 early date a place of importance. It became 
 a Eoman colony in the reign of Augustus. 
 Agrippa adorned and beautified it with col- 
 onnades, porticos, theatres, and other public 
 buildings, the remains of which are entomb- 
 ed beneath the rubbish of the ancient city, 
 or lie at the bottom of the sea in front of the 
 town. Christianity was early planted there, 
 and churches flourished. It was also a seat 
 of learning, and its law school was resorted 
 
HISTORY OF BEIRUT. 21 
 
 to by youth of the first families. In the year 
 551 it was visited by an awful earthquake, 
 which overthrew its churches, temples, and 
 palaces, and buried vast multitudes beneath 
 their ruins. The city was rebuilt, and though 
 it never regained its former magnificence, yet 
 within the last thirty years it has attained a 
 large population, and become distinguished 
 for its wealth and commerce. Its population 
 since 1830 has grown from five to forty thou- 
 sand. At that period there was scarcely a 
 decent house outside of the walls; now two 
 thirds of the population reside in the gardens, 
 which with hundreds of convenient dwellings, 
 and not a few noble mansions, adorn the 
 charming suburbs. European merchants 
 have selected it for the seat of their opera- 
 tions; and as the foreign consuls settled in 
 this city, the government was led to make it. 
 the capital of the country. 
 
 Beirut is the seat of Christian missionary 
 operations. Many years since, the American 
 Board selected this metropolis of Syria as 
 the centre of religious light and influence. 
 They planted there the standard of the gos- 
 pel, and men of talents and piety have long 
 
22 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 been occupied in preaching the word, trans- 
 lating the Scriptures, instructing the young, 
 and thus bringing the truth to bear upon the 
 ignorance, superstition, and vice of this be- 
 nighted country. How affecting it is that 
 Syria and Palestine, where the Redeemer 
 lived and taught in the streets, and where 
 the apostles proclaimed the news of salva- 
 tion and planted churches, and where Chris- 
 tianity gained its earliest and noblest tri- 
 umphs, should have sunk into darkness, have 
 their candlestick removed from its place, 
 and be trodden down by Turkish tyranny, 
 and deluded by the errors and superstitions 
 of false religions. And yet, again, how inter- 
 esting that the light of the gospel, which 
 originally emanated from the East, and in 
 the progress of years shed its illuminating 
 •rays upon the western world, should now re- 
 turn from this favored land to enlighten and 
 bless those who once enjoyed the light, but 
 are now sitting in darkness and the shadow 
 of death. 
 
 The providences which brought Antonio to 
 Beirut at the age of fourteen, brought him 
 also within the reach of missionary influ- 
 
THE WORD OF GOD. 23 
 
 ence. We know not whether he frequented 
 any of the places where the missionaries 
 gave instruction, or held intercourse with any 
 one of these devoted servants of Christ ; but 
 he came within reach of the Bible, that holy 
 book, whose blessed pages these Christian 
 laborers had translated into the Syrian 
 tongue, and which now could intelligibly 
 convey to the minds of Jews and Turks, 
 Arabs and Maronites, the way of salvation 
 by Jesus Christ. And as this holy book was 
 destined to exert a remarkable influence on 
 the heart and life of Antonio, its discovery 
 and subsequent perusal, as well as the cir- 
 cumstances that led to this result, were so 
 many links in the chain by which the Lord 
 guided this interesting youth in the way of 
 truth, safety, and happiness. 
 
 On a Sabbath several years later, as An- 
 tonio was walking through the streets of Bei- 
 rut, he met a person offering for sale Bibles 
 in the Arabic language, and published by the 
 British and Foreign Bible Society. He in- 
 quired the price, and was answered, Fifty 
 cents. The lowness of the price measured to 
 him the value of the book. He compared 
 
24 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 it in his mind with a copy of the Arabian 
 Nights, which he possessed, and for which 
 he paid the sum of ten dollars. He went 
 away in disgust, thinking that a book that 
 could be bought at so small a price must 
 be of very little value. But Antonio's inter- 
 est in that blessed volume was not to termi- 
 nate here. His curiosity was awakened ; his 
 thoughts were occupied by that book; he 
 longed to know its contents. At length yield- 
 ing to the impulses of his heart, he went in 
 search of the Bible-seller, and secretly pur- 
 chased a copy. He knew it was a prohibited 
 volume; that the authorities of the church 
 would not allow him to read it ; and if it were 
 discovered that he had been guilty of so great 
 an offence, he would be visited with a severe 
 penalty. But he could not understand why 
 the Bible should be prohibited, and yet other 
 books, that were impure and injurious in their 
 tendency, should be allowed. He was curi- 
 ous to ascertain whether it contained worse 
 words than the Arabian Nights; the priests 
 of his church — the Maronite — permitting the 
 reading of the one, and forbidding the peru- 
 sal of the other. This work, he remarked, is 
 
LIGHT ENTERING. 25 
 
 extremely immoral far beyond any concep- 
 tion we can form from our translations 
 " Surely," lie said to himself, "the Bible can- 
 not be worse than the Arabian Nights." 
 
 Let it be observed that Antonio could read 
 the Arabic language. At an early period 
 when at home he manifested a strong desire 
 for knowledge, and in some manner, proba- 
 bly from one of the priests, learned to read 
 and write : no mean acquirement in a country 
 where it is the policy of the rulers, lay and 
 clerical, to keep the people in ignorance. 
 Familiar therefore with his native tongue, he 
 found no difficulty in reading the Scriptures 
 in Arabic. 
 
 Entering upon their perusal, he soon came 
 to passages he could not reconcile with the 
 doctrines and practices of the Romish church. 
 " Now," said he to himself, " I know why the 
 priest does not wish me to read the Bible. 
 It is contrary to the church; it condemns 
 the church." But as he thought the church 
 infallible, he concluded that whatever was 
 inconsistent with it must be wrong. He had 
 been brought up under the impression that 
 the Bible is to be tested by the church, and 
 
26 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 not the church by the Bible. Thus impress- 
 ed, when he came to the twentieth chapter of 
 Exodus, and read, " Thou shalt not make unto 
 thee any graven image, nor any likeness of 
 any thing that is in heaven above, or that is 
 in the earth beneath, .... thou shalt not bow 
 down to them, nor worship them," his rage 
 burst all bounds, and he tossed the book 
 from him in indignation. It was at variance 
 with the practice of the Maronite church, to 
 which he had been trained from childhood. 
 He regarded it as a fable, and resolved to 
 commit it to the flames. But pausing a mo- 
 ment, he said to himself, It will cost me but 
 little time to destroy this volume, but how 
 great must have been the time and labor 
 which it cost to make it. Arrested by this 
 thought, he relinquished his purpose, and 
 renewed his readings, determined to know 
 what it did contain. Frequently he would 
 throw down the book, and with all the im- 
 petuosity of his eastern nature, reproach and 
 utter maledictions against the deceivers that 
 published it as the word of God. Sometimes 
 he would go for days without looking at it, but 
 always found reason for returning for another 
 
THE TWO BIBLES. 27 
 
 inspection. The subject pressed upon his 
 mind, and he found himself unable to keep 
 his thoughts from it. 
 
 Was this the true Bible? Had he been 
 deceived ? How should he find out whether 
 it was true or not ? Thus he meditated and 
 reasoned with himself. At length the thought 
 occurred to him, that if he could compare 
 with this the church's authenticated version, 
 then he could satisfy himself. Forthwith he 
 went to the priest, and requested the loan of 
 a Bible. " And what," said the priest, " do 
 you want with the Bible ? You have no busi- 
 ness with the Bible." " But I only want it a 
 short time ; I will bring it back to you again." 
 His request was granted. "And now," thought 
 Antonio, " I will find out if this is an honest 
 and true Bible." He sat down and diligent- 
 ly compared the two together. He found 
 them substantially alike. The passages that 
 he thought taught heresy in the one, he found 
 just the same in the other. He turned from 
 passage to passage, and still they agreed. 
 He closed the book. "Now," said he, "I 
 know why the priests do not wish us to read 
 the Bible; it is because the Bible condemns 
 
28 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 the church, even the Bible they admit to be 
 authentic." The power of the priest with 
 him was broken. He would no more go to 
 confession; he refused to attend mass; he 
 no longer believed in transubstantiation nor 
 in worshipping images, or the Yirgin Mary 
 or the crucifix. One by one he took the 
 doctrines of his church, examined them by 
 the light of God's word, and became con- 
 vinced that they were wrong. Then he be- 
 came an infidel, and did not believe any 
 thing; but all the while God's good Spirit 
 kept him drinking at the fountain. 
 
 The Bible became the subject of constant 
 reflection and study. During the first year 
 he read the sacred volume twice through, 
 and each time he opened its heavenly pages 
 fresh light seemed to break in upon his un- 
 derstanding. It taught him new truths, 
 truths which he could not fully comprehend. 
 It shook his confidence in the rites of his 
 church, and the teachings of his priests. He 
 planned another perusal; he laid out a year 
 for it; he collated passage with passage. 
 
 To ascertain Christ, who seemed to him to 
 be so variously represented as to make it un- 
 
THE GOSPEL EMBRACED. 29 
 
 certain whether he was an individual or not, 
 he took pen and paper, and beginning with 
 Genesis, he wrote out every passage under 
 specific heads, which heads were the various 
 representations of Christ as God, Man, Proph- 
 et, Priest, King, Lamb, etc. "His object," 
 he stated, "was to get both a logical and 
 numerical evidence of who Christ was." 
 This study brought him to a belief in the 
 divinity of Christ, and in the Trinity in unity 
 of the godhead. He formed a body of the- 
 ology for himself — a pure Bible theology ; he 
 embraced the whole system of evangelical 
 truth, and became not simply a theoretical 
 believer, but an experimental Christian. 
 
 The truths he learned in the word of God 
 were received in faith, and applied to the 
 heart by the Holy Spirit. That Saviour, 
 whom he discovered to be the chief theme of 
 the Bible, became revealed to him as his Ee- 
 deemer from sin and death; and spiritually 
 enlightened in the knowledge of his person, 
 he was led to exclaim, "I count all things 
 but loss for the excellency of the knowledge 
 of Christ." Jesus became the supreme ob- 
 ject of his affections, and the source of his 
 
30 A.NTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 greatest joy. He rested on him with all the 
 simplicity and confidence of a little child, be- 
 lieved his promises, rejoiced in the hope of 
 his forgiving mercy, and devoted all the ener- 
 gies of his sonl to his service. He became 
 a cheerful, happy Christian. His heart swell- 
 ed with gratitude to God for the wonderful 
 providence that had directed his steps; for 
 his deliverance from papal darkness, and 
 his introduction into the light and liberty of 
 the Protestant faith; for having placed the 
 Bible within his reach, and so blessed the 
 reading of it to his soul as to cause him to be 
 born again through the incorruptible seed of 
 the word. He felt that he was brought into a 
 new world, every object of which filled him 
 with wonder, love, and praise. He was no 
 longer a poor outcast, but a fellow-citizen of 
 the saints and of the household of God. God 
 was his Father, Christ his Saviour and Elder 
 Brother,, the Holy Spirit his Sanctifier and 
 Comforter, and heaven his everlasting home. 
 Privileges and hopes so precious filled him 
 with joy. 
 
 What a striking illustration is here fur- 
 nished of the power of the Bible in illumi- 
 
POWER OF THE TRUTH. 31 
 
 nating and converting the sonl. Here is a 
 yonng man reared amid the deepest gloom 
 of ignorance and superstition. He met with 
 a copy of the sacred Scriptures. Without 
 any one to guide him or explain the different 
 passages, or any commentary to aid him in 
 ascertaining its meaning, he simply applied 
 himself to its study with that energy and 
 perseverance which an ardent desire for the 
 truth naturally prompted. He felt his need 
 of divine assistance, and implored the Lord 
 to open his eyes, that he might behold won- 
 drous things out of his law. God, who has 
 said, "The meek he will guide in judgment; 
 the meek will he teach his way," revealed to 
 this humble and anxious inquirer the mind of 
 the Spirit. As he proceeded in his investi- 
 gations, he beheld at each step the evidences 
 of the Bible being the word of God. He dis- 
 covered in it doctrines so sublime, precepts 
 so holy, promises so consoling, and a provis- 
 ion of grace through Christ Jesus so adapted 
 to his wants, that he knew it was God who 
 spoke through the written word, and that 
 "holy men of old spoke as they were moved 
 by the Holy Ghost." 
 
32 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 With this conviction he approached the 
 sacred volume with reverence, and with the 
 assurance that in its blessed pages were to 
 be found the truths of salvation. Those 
 truths he sought with indefatigable diligence. 
 He regarded the Bible as a rich mine of 
 wealth, where valuable treasures were con- 
 cealed, and he who would obtain them must 
 dig for them as for silver and for choice gold. 
 He thus by untiring effort searched the Scrip- 
 tures, and labored to find the priceless gems 
 lying beneath the surface. And his toil was 
 not in vain. Observing that Christ was the 
 prominent personage spoken of in the Bible, 
 he first endeavored to ascertain who he was, 
 and in doing so was gradually led to the 
 knowledge of the true God existing in three 
 persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. He 
 learned the way of access to God through 
 Jesus Christ. He found that pardon and 
 eternal life were to be obtained by faith in 
 that divine Saviour, and that sinful men were 
 invited to come to Christ, to believe, and to 
 be saved ; he discovered that the Holy Spirit 
 performed a work upon the heart, renewing 
 and sanctifying it, and bringing it to repent 
 
LIVING TRUTH. 33 
 
 and believe in Jesus. And lie ascertained that 
 a sinner thus coming to and accepting an of- 
 fered Saviour, was adopted into the family of 
 God ; was invested with all the privileges and 
 comforts of a child ; had precious promises to 
 lean upon ; was surrounded with the care and 
 protection of the Lord ; was sustained by his 
 providence, comforted in trial, supported in 
 death, and at last admitted into heaven to 
 live for ever in perfect purity and blessed- 
 ness with Christ and all his redeemed people. 
 Thus he became theoretically acquainted 
 with the system of revealed truth, and recog- 
 nized it as the truth of the living God. But 
 he learned still more. There is a knowledge 
 of the head; and there is a knowledge of 
 the heart, consisting in an experimental 
 sense of the beauty and excellence of divine 
 things. A man may have the former and yet 
 be in spiritual ignorance, not knowing the 
 grace of Christ in the heart. He may be 
 versed in all the doctrines of the Scriptures, 
 and capable of explaining and defending 
 them with intelligence and force, but yet may 
 have no personal interest in Christ, and no 
 perception of the glory of his person or the 
 
 Bisliallany. 3 
 
% 
 34 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 worth of Iris redemption. Antonio felt the 
 power of truth upon his soul: the Saviour 
 was revealed to him as Ids Saviour; he put 
 forth the exercise of a living faith, and ob- 
 tained a personal interest in Christ; he dis- 
 covered an adaptation in the Lord Jesus to 
 his wants as a guilty and polluted sinner, and 
 he accepted him as the Lord his righteous- 
 ness and strength. And now he had more 
 than a speculative acquaintance with him, he 
 had that knowledge of which it is said, "This 
 is life eternal, to know thee the only true God, 
 and Jesus Christ Avhom thou hast sent." His 
 knowledge of him was of the heart. He lov- 
 ed him, delighted in him, and could say, "He 
 is the chief among ten thousand, and alto- 
 gether lovely." 
 
 Thus " the entrance of thy word giveth 
 light, it giveth understanding to the simple." 
 " The law of the Lord is perfect, converting 
 the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, 
 making wise the simple. The statutes of the 
 Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the com- 
 mandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening 
 the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, endur- 
 ing for ever; the judgments of the Lord are true 
 
LOVE FOR THE BIBLE. 35 
 
 and righteous altogether : more to be desired 
 are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold ; 
 sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb. ' ! 
 Love for the Bible was now the ruling passion 
 of this young Syrian convert. He was fond of 
 reading, but all other books lost their attrac- 
 tion after he had once entered into the spirit of 
 these living oracles of God. In them he read of 
 things divine and eternal, things pertaining to 
 the adorable Jehovah, the almighty Saviour, 
 the immortal soul, the glories of the invisible 
 and future world. " It was his delight," says 
 one who knew him, "to retire under the shade 
 of some tall cedar, and pore over the poetry of 
 the Psalms, the wisdom of Solomon, the Lam- 
 entations of Jeremiah, and the wonders of 
 the Pentateuch. To a mind like his, inquisi- 
 tive, bold, and ardent, and governed by rea- 
 son of a superior order, this book was like a 
 never-failing fountain. Previously he had 
 read with wonder and amusement the Ara- 
 bian Nights' Entertainment; but when he 
 procured a copy of 'the way of life,' the pa- 
 triarchs and the prophets of the Old Testa- 
 ment usurped the place in his mind formerly 
 occupied by the caliphs and the viziers. 
 
36 ANTONIO B1SHALLANY. 
 
 Strange as it may appear, lie paid no atten- 
 tion whatever in the beginning to the gos- 
 pels or the epistles. However, as he himself 
 repeatedly remarked afterwards, when once 
 the grand truths of the Saviour dawned upon 
 his mind, it appeared as if he had been sud- 
 denly born into a new and spiritual life. The 
 prophecies, which he knew by rote, seemed 
 to him but the echo ; this was the awful yet 
 cheering voice of God proclaiming the way 
 of salvation to a lost and guilty world." 
 
 The period was now at hand when the 
 faith of Antonio in his precious Bible and 
 his love to Christ were to be put to the test. 
 It is easy to adhere to Christianity and be 
 the faithful advocates of the Saviour and his 
 word when religion is popular — when we are 
 sustained by the smiles of friends, and the 
 path of piety is strewn with flowers. But 
 when the spirit of persecution arises, and we 
 cannot openly avow our principles without 
 incurring the prejudices and animosity of 
 men, and sacrificing even the land feelings of 
 our dearest relations ; when our fealty to 
 Christ exposes us to the sneers and reproaches 
 of the world, or it may be to pains and im- 
 
PROFESSING CHRIST. 3*1 
 
 prisomnent, then it is that our faith is tried, 
 and great grace is needed to enable ns to 
 endure suffering for Christ's sake, and prove 
 that we are not ashamed of him and of his 
 cross. The Saviour has said, " Marvel not 
 if the world hate you ; you know it hated me 
 before it hated you." Christians in different 
 ages have experienced the truth of their Mas- 
 ter's words, and thousands of his humble fol- 
 lowers have, for conscience' sake, and for the 
 sake of Christ and his truth, endured the loss 
 of all things, and even laid down their lives 
 for Him who died, that they, whether living 
 or dying, might be the Lord's. 
 
 When this interesting young man had occu- 
 pied about three years in the secret perusal 
 and study of the Scriptures, and his convic- 
 tions of truth had settled down into establish- 
 ed principles — when he had actually given 
 his heart to Christ, and felt that subjection to 
 human authority must yield to a higher ob- 
 ligation if that subjection came in conflict 
 with his duty to the Saviour, then he became 
 more oj)en in the manifestation of his newly 
 imbibed religious sentiments. He would occa- 
 sionally express his opinion on some scriptu- 
 
o 
 
 8 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 ral doctrine, or make an inquiry respecting 
 the practices and ceremonies of the sect to 
 which he had belonged, or utter a remark on 
 the wickedness of depriving the people of the 
 Bible. He also often absented himself from 
 the Maronite church ; and when he attended 
 their place of worship, he omitted on enter- 
 ing to sprinkle upon himself the holy water 
 and make upon his breast the sign of the 
 cross. In these and various ways he exhib- 
 ited a disposition to forsake the religion of 
 his youth. 
 
 At length these things were either noticed 
 by the priest or were reported to him by 
 some emissary who was pleased with the op- 
 portunity of involving Antonio in trouble. 
 The priest at once cited Antonio to come 
 before him, and used every effort to convince 
 him of his wickedness in thus neglecting his 
 obligations to the church of his fathers. I 
 have not been able to learn what were the 
 questions and replies on this occasion, but 
 the fact was clear that God used the weak 
 things of this world to confound the wise and 
 mighty. The Lord was with his humble and 
 faithful servant, and enabled him to make a 
 
BEFORE THE PRIEST. 39 
 
 good confession, and to declare with bold- 
 ness his love to the word of God on which he 
 had placed his hope. He probably stated 
 with frankness that he had in his possession 
 a copy of the Scriptures, and that he had 
 been engaged in searching them ; that he had 
 learned from them many things of which he 
 before had been ignorant, and. was led by 
 them to see many errors in the faith and 
 practice of the church in which he had been 
 educated. Such statements must have been 
 highly offensive to the priest, who no doubt 
 condemned and censured Antonio with great 
 severity, and said every thing he could in the 
 way of persuasion and denunciation to lead 
 him to repent and change his course. Sev- 
 eral other examinations took place before 
 xlifferent grades of ecclesiastics, each one 
 being, it is presumed, increasingly rigid and 
 threatening. But Antonio's faith failed not. 
 He knew whom he had believed, and was per- 
 suaded that He was able to keep that which 
 he had committed to him. After receiving a 
 solemn warning as to his future conduct, he 
 was dismissed, and returned to his custom- 
 ary avocations. 
 
40 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 Instead of being daunted by this experi- 
 ence of priestly domination over the liberty 
 of conscience, Antonio became more resolute 
 in acting according to his convictions of duty. 
 His heart glowed with benevolence towards 
 his fellow-countrymen. He pitied their igno- 
 rant and degraded condition, and wished to 
 communicate the things that he had learned. 
 As Andrew, when he had found the Saviour, 
 went and brought his brother Simon to Je- 
 sus, and as Philip said to Nathan ael, " We 
 have found him of whom Moses and the 
 prophets did write, come and see;" so this 
 Syrian convert, having by the reading of 
 Moses and the prophets learned of Jesus 
 Christ, desired his brethren to come and see 
 this gracious and glorious Saviour, and re- 
 ceive from him the same blessings he had 
 himself experienced. He had been reading 
 the Bible, the revelation of God to men, and 
 had beheld wondrous tilings which before 
 had been kept from his knowledge. That 
 book had opened the eyes of his understand- 
 ing, broken the chains of superstition and 
 sin, renovated his heart, filled him with love 
 to Christ, and awakened the hope of forgive- 
 
TEACHING CHRIST. 41 
 
 ness through his sufferings and death. It 
 had taught him that no acts of penance or 
 works of righteousness or religious obser- 
 vances could justify him before God, but that 
 "the just shall live by faith;" that the merits 
 of Christ are our only plea, and he that believ- 
 eth is justified only through the righteousness 
 of the Redeemer. Following the guidance of 
 this holy volume, he had believed ; and now 
 being justified by faith, he had peace with 
 God through his Lord and Saviour Jesus 
 Christ. A book that had brought such glad 
 tidings to him, and wrought an entire change 
 in him, and opened to him the highest sources 
 of joy, was not to be confined to himself. He^ 
 must go and tell his Mends and neighbors of 
 the priceless treasure. 
 
 Under the impulse of this desire, he was 
 one evening explaining some truths which 
 he had learned to a fellow-countryman in 
 one of the streets of Beirut, his mind no 
 doubt absorbed in the subject and not ap- 
 prehensive of danger. It so occurred that 
 at that moment a merchant from Aleppo was 
 passing. Attracted by the earnest manner of 
 Antonio, he paused and listened; and being 
 
42 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 in all probability a papist himself, and sol- 
 emnly sworn to give information of any who 
 swerved from the faith and practice of the 
 church, he turned away with indignation and 
 hastened to report the case to the ecclesias- 
 tical authorities, Antonio on that very night 
 was arrested and thrown into prison. Al- 
 though his heart was sustained by the com- 
 forts of the gospel, yet he had a dread of 
 being seized and confined in a loathsome dun- 
 geon, it being understood that an uncle, who 
 had once displeased the ecclesiastical rulers, 
 was long thus confined, no one daring to in- 
 terfere or even supply his necessities, through 
 ear of anathemas or punishment. Priestly 
 power in that country bows to none other. 
 It binds the people with a rod which they 
 dare not even bend, and are much less able 
 to break. 
 
 In due time Antonio was arraigned before 
 the highest dignitary of the church, who with 
 subordinate priests and rulers formed a court 
 for the trial and adjudication of those accus- 
 ed of heresy. It was a critical position for 
 poor Antonio. Here he stood with none to 
 advocate his cause, without money or influ- 
 
BEFORE THE COURT. 43 
 
 ence to control the decision of his judges, 
 and at the mercy of men who in all ages 
 have been known to pass the most cruel and 
 bloody sentences upon those who presume to 
 differ from them in opinion, or set up their 
 private judgment against the church. 
 
 Unprotected and defenceless as Antonio 
 appeared to be, yet another remarkable 
 providence was here revealed which turned 
 to our young friend's advantage. Strange 
 as it may appear, a member of the court, on 
 whose decision the liberty and life of Anto- 
 nio were now suspended, was a personal 
 friend, and felt concerned for his welfare. 
 Embracing a suitable opportunity before the 
 trial, he privately warned Antonio that when 
 he appeared before the court he must not 
 say a word, but keep perfectly silent; for if 
 he made any reply to the questions put to 
 him, or said any thing in his defence, how- 
 ever harmless it might be, it would be dis- 
 torted to his disadvantage. Antonio observed 
 this friendly and wise caution. In doing so 
 he had the example of his divine Master, who 
 when arraigned before Pilate and accused by 
 the chief priests and elders, " answered noth- 
 
44 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 ing." And when Pilate asked, Hear est thou 
 not how many things they witness against 
 thee? "he answered him to never a word." 
 Thus this humble and faithful disciple of Je- 
 sus, when brought before the priests and el- 
 ders of a church who persecuted Christ in the 
 person of his little one, answered not a word. 
 To all their questions and accusations he made 
 no reply, but kept profoundly silent. What 
 precisely was said to him we know not ; but 
 as the merchant from Aleppo had reported 
 his having heard Antonio explaining the 
 truths of the Bible, and as this was the cause 
 of his arrest, it is to be presumed that his 
 reading the Scriptures and teaching them to 
 others were the principal points on which he 
 was interrogated. He probably was told that 
 the Bible was designed for the priests, and 
 not for the people ; that it was dangerous for 
 a man to read it, especially an unlearned 
 man, and that by doing so he was dishonor- 
 ing the church, which was the only author- 
 ized interpreter of the Bible ; that in teach- 
 ing others the truths of this book, he was 
 committing a double sin, and exposing both 
 himself and others to severe penance, if not 
 
THE INTERVIEW. 45 
 
 to excommunication and final destruction. 
 The bishop and priests probably accused him 
 of his neglect of the rites and observances of 
 the church, and warned him of the danger 
 of becoming a final apostate, and being for 
 ever cursed of God for his awful wickedness 
 in renouncing the true faith and becoming 
 an advocate of damnable error. 
 
 Having portrayed his sins in all their 
 atrocity, these indignant ecclesiastics no 
 doubt uttered their terrible denunciations, 
 declaring the unpardonable nature of the 
 offence he was committing, if unrepented of 
 and not humbly confessed, and the terrible 
 anathemas that would rest upon him for 
 ever. And on the other hand, with kind and 
 gentle words they endeavored to dissuade him 
 from the ruinous course he was pursuing, 
 and by appeals to his obligation and grati- 
 tude to the religion in which he had been 
 reared — to his desire for peace and salvation, 
 which were to be found in the church of his 
 fathers, and nowhere else — to his regard for 
 his parents, who would grieve at heart over 
 his spiritual defection — and to his love for 
 his own soul, whose hopes depended upon 
 
46 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 his adherence to the true faith, they labored 
 to subdue his feelings, and induce him to re- 
 cant whatever he had said inconsistent with 
 the teachings of the church, and return again 
 to her bosom as a true and loving child to 
 his faithful and holy mother. Above all, 
 they doubtless entreated him to discard 
 for ever that Bible which had operated so 
 injuriously upon his mind and conduct, 
 weakening his faith in the rites and doctrines 
 of the church, and leading him into destruc- 
 tive errors. And with solemn words and 
 authoritative manner they no doubt com- 
 manded him, as the Jewish priest and scribes 
 and rulers commanded Peter and John, "not 
 to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Je- 
 sus." 
 
 Antonio kept silent, according to the in- 
 struction of his friend; but we can readily 
 surmise what were the thoughts of his heart, 
 and that if he had deemed it wise to speak 
 in reply, he would have said with Peter and 
 John, "Whether it be right in the sight of 
 God to hearken unto you more than unto 
 God, judge ye ; for we cannot but speak the 
 things which we have seen and heard." 
 
THE DECISION. 47 
 
 Antonio loved the precious Bible; he felt 
 its saving power upon his heart, and he longed 
 to tell it to his poor benighted brethren, and 
 make known to them the name of Jesns. He 
 could have said with, the prophet, "His word 
 was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in 
 my bones, and I was weary of forbearing, and 
 I could not stay." Antonio was not un- 
 mindful of the powers that be. He wished 
 to obey all proper laws, and to pay deference 
 to the constituted rulers of both church and 
 state ; but he also recognized his obligations 
 and responsibility to a higher authority than 
 any earthly court, and a higher law than any 
 human code. And when the commands and 
 prohibitions of the bishop and priests came 
 in conflict with his duty to his divine Lord 
 and Master, he did not hesitate which to 
 obey. He obeyed God rather than men, and 
 with holy boldness both read the Bible him- 
 self and taught it to individuals or collected 
 groups in the streets of the city. 
 
 The court before whom Antonio had been 
 standing a silent culprit, having exhausted all 
 its powers in vain — having persuaded and 
 threatened, commanded and reasoned with- 
 
48 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 out producing any change in the mind of the 
 prisoner at the bar, openly declared him to 
 be a heretic. As such, he would have been 
 doomed to the punishment usually inflicted 
 upon those convicted of this aggravated 
 crime, had it not been for the influence of 
 the kind Mend in some way associated with 
 the court. This secret but faithful friend in- 
 terposed in his behalf; perhaps offered some 
 apology, or referred to some palliating cir- 
 cumstances. Whatever means he used, he 
 was successful in controlling the minds of 
 the judges, and effectually averting the blow 
 that Antonio supposed would inevitably have 
 crushed him. Antonio was released from the 
 arraignment and set at liberty. 
 
 Thus the angel of the Lord was sent to de- 
 liver his faithful young servant. Like Daniel, 
 he feared God rather than man, and did not 
 desist from duty, though commanded to do 
 so ; and God honored him by restraining the 
 power of the lions, and rescuing him from 
 their jaws. 
 
 What an instance of God's wonder-working 
 providence is here seen, in the agency of the 
 person who so kindly and efficiently befriend- 
 
POWER OF FAITH. 49 
 
 ed Antonio. It was God who formed this 
 curious and beautiful link in the chain of 
 Antonio's history. It was God whose wis- 
 dom planned that one of those in whose 
 hands Antonio's life and happiness were 
 placed should be his friend, and that his ad- 
 vice should overrule the decisions of the 
 court, and secure Antonio's liberty. Solo- 
 mon says there is a friend that sticketh closer 
 than a brother. He was such a friend who, 
 while near relatives were wanting in sympa- 
 thy, w T as exerting his influence for the one he 
 loved, when that one wa£ in danger and 
 trial. 
 
 So when the Christian shall be arraigned 
 at the bar of judgment, He who will be his 
 Judge and will decide his case, will be his 
 Friend and Advocate, and by the plea He 
 will present, will secure his acquittal and ac- 
 ceptance. 
 
 It is gratifying to reflect upon the Chris- 
 tian faith and patience of this young disciple, 
 who, not knowing what should befall him, 
 was resigned and submissive to the will of 
 God — rejoicing in being found w T orthy to 
 suffer for Christ's sake. With meekness he 
 
 Bibhall&ny. 4: 
 
50 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 stood before his accusers, and returned no 
 angry or resentful word. When reviled, he 
 reviled not again; when persecuted, he an- 
 swered not, but committed himself unto Him 
 who judgeth righteously. Like Jesus, he 
 was led as a lamb to the slaughter ; and as a 
 sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he 
 opened not his mouth. Here was the faith 
 and the patience of one of the saints of God. 
 It was a present Jesus who cheered him 
 by his smiles, and who whispered to him, 
 "Fear not, for I am with thee; be not dismay- 
 ed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee ; 
 yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee 
 with the right hand of my righteousness." 
 
 Antonio had cause of gratitude to God 
 for preserving him from the excruciating 
 sufferings which have been inflicted by ty- 
 rannical power upon its helpless victims. 
 That he was not doomed, like his worthy 
 fellow-countryman Assaad Shicliak, to per- 
 petual confinement in some gloomy dungeon, 
 that he was not subjected to cruel tortures, 
 or was not sentenced to be consumed on a 
 slow fire, or have his limbs torn from his body, 
 was a ground of thankfulness. 
 
THE RELEASE. 51 
 
 But though a kind Providence rescued him 
 from these sufferings, and he was restored to 
 liberty with the simple charge of heresy rest- 
 ing upon him, Antonio's trials were not termi- 
 nated. The name of heretic, attached to one 
 who has belonged to the Romish communion, 
 fixes an indelible stigma upon his character. 
 It separates him from the church. It sub- 
 jects him to the hostility of all who are true 
 in their allegiance to the Catholic faith. It 
 intercepts all intercourse between him and 
 his nearest relatives and friends, and induces 
 them to abandon him, as one given over to 
 the devil and accursed of God. 
 
 Antonio having been released hastened at 
 once to his home, not thinking but he would 
 receive a joyous welcome, as he was wont 
 when he occasionally visited his beloved rela- 
 tives. But how changed were the counte- 
 nance and manners of his beloved friends. 
 A messenger had preceded him, and spread 
 the news of his defection and incurable her- 
 esy. His mother, who was accustomed to 
 clasp him in her arms and impress upon his 
 cheek the kiss of affection, now closed the 
 door in his face, as he sought to enter, and 
 
52 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 would not look upon him or say one kind 
 word. His brothers, in whose company he 
 had found so much pleasure in other days, 
 were not allowed to see him. Their mother 
 sorrowfully gave him over to Satan ; but was 
 resolved that the other sheep of her fold 
 should not be contaminated and carried away 
 with him. His acquaintances and neighbors 
 scoffed at him as vile and detestable, and 
 with lifted hands and averted faces expressed 
 their unwillingness to recognize him. He 
 was excommunicated — an outcast. "He had 
 no mother, nor brother, nor friend, nor home, 
 nor shelter, nor food, nor help in all his na- 
 tive land. He stood beneath his native ce- 
 dars a stranger among the mountains of Leb- 
 anon, homeless and friendless because he 
 read and believed God's word. Finding he 
 was not to gain entrance to the house or be 
 considered as a member of the family, he felt 
 reluctant to go away without at least receiv- 
 ing a parting word from that dear mother, 
 towards whom a child so naturally looks for 
 the expression of love. But no ; even a last 
 kind look and the tender farewell were de- 
 nied him. Dejected and sad, poor Antonio 
 
DIVINE SUPPORT. 53 
 
 now left the place and wandered his lonely 
 way towards Beirut. But he was not with- 
 out comfort. He carried his cherished Bible 
 with him, and opening its pages, he read that 
 his Master was persecuted, and that if a man 
 were not willing to forsake father and moth- 
 er, houses and lands, for the kingdom of heav- 
 en's sake, he could not be his disciple. He 
 felt honored in being a partaker of Christ's 
 sufferings, and being called to walk in the 
 path consecrated by the steps of his divine 
 Lord and Master; and having given the 
 required evidence of discipleship, he rejoiced 
 in the hope that he would also share in the 
 glory of the Saviour — that having borne the 
 cross, he would wear the crown, and dwell 
 with those who came out of great tribulation, 
 and who had washed their robes and made 
 them white in the blood of the Lamb. 
 
 Antonio's offence which subjected him to 
 the trials above narrated, consisted in read- 
 ing the Bible and communicating its truths 
 to others. And what sin was there in so do- 
 ing? The church of Home, it is true, prohib- 
 its the people from reading the Scriptures, 
 and the council of Trent declares it to be an 
 
54 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 unpardonable sin. But is not the Bible a 
 revelation of God's will to men, and are men 
 to be prohibited from reading the communi- 
 cation he has made to them? The truths it 
 contains are adapted to the condition and 
 wants of men, and have a bearing upon the 
 welfare of the whole human race. As all 
 men have a personal interest therefore in 
 the Scriptures, they ought to be used and 
 studied by the people. 
 
 How did our Saviour and his apostles 
 speak on this subject? Christ did not forbid 
 the people's reading the Bible, but on the 
 contrary enforced the duty of studying it. 
 " Search the Scriptures," said he ; " for in 
 them ye think ye have eternal life, and they 
 are they which testify of me." 
 
 The very design of the written word is the 
 edification and comfort of Christians, and the 
 admonition and conversion of sinners. "All 
 Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and 
 is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for cor- 
 rection, for instruction in righteousness, that 
 the man of God" — not the priest or min- 
 ister alone, but every believer — "may be 
 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good 
 
GOD'S WORD FOR ALL. 55 
 
 works." This blessed book is a precious 
 letter addressed by the wise and gracious 
 Governor of the world, our Creator, Redeem- 
 er, and Judge, to mankind. And shall they 
 not be permitted to read the epistle which 
 God hath sent to them? Must the letter 
 that hath come from our heavenly Father to 
 his children remain sealed, and those chil- 
 dren be kept in ignorance of its contents? 
 How explicit is Paul in his epistle to the 
 Christians at Rome : ""Whatsoever things were 
 written beforetime were written for our 
 learning" — and the most important learning 
 in the world, namely — " that we all, through 
 patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might 
 have hope." For our learning, mine and yours, 
 ye people of Rome, tent-makers, artificers, 
 men, women, and children, old and young — 
 for our good were these doctrines, precepts, 
 promises, and historical lessons written, that 
 our faith, patience, and hope, and every vir- 
 tue, might grow and abound. 
 
 When God gives truth by inspiration, and 
 appoints it to be profitable to conviction, to 
 conversion, and instruction in righteousness, 
 that men may be led to the Saviour, and be- 
 
56 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 lievers farnished unto every good word and 
 work, what audacity, what wickedness, for 
 any man to interpose and hinder the gracious 
 design of the Almighty, and that by a law, 
 and under a curse ! 
 
 Persecution broke out in Egypt in the 
 early part of the third century, under the 
 iron sceptre of the emperor Severus. It was 
 spreading devastation over the church, and 
 many who loved their Bibles and loved the 
 Saviour were sacrified as martyrs to the 
 faith of the gospel. A young man sixteen 
 years of age, seeing his father seized by a 
 band of soldiers, implored them to release 
 him; but in vain. The aged Leonidas was 
 thrown into a dungeon. The young man 
 was to appear himself before the heathen 
 tribunal. He would confess the Saviour, and 
 offer his life to those who had murdered his 
 brother and were now about to shed the 
 blood of his beloved parent. His heart- 
 broken mother clasped him in her arms, and 
 seeing him about to escape, she carried away 
 his toga and tunic, and hid her son's gar- 
 ments, that she might save his life. Then 
 the young man, seeing he could not share the 
 
LOVE OF THE BIBLE. 57 
 
 fate of his father, exclaimed, "At least do 
 not abandon, for our sakes, the name of our 
 Lord Jesus." Leonidas died a martyr's 
 death, leaving his wife a widow, his son 
 without a protector, and six other children 
 very young. 
 
 This young man became a minister; he 
 rose to the chair of Clement, and if Clement, 
 says D'Aubigne", instructed a thousand, the 
 son of Leonidas instructed ten thousand. 
 He was no other than the distinguished Ori- 
 gen, A. D. 220. Addressing one of his own 
 children, he says, "My son, read above all 
 with deep attention the holy word of God. I 
 say, with deep attention, for this is requisite, 
 in order to speak and judge of it without 
 precipitation. If you persevere in the read- 
 ing of the Bible with a fixed mind, and with 
 faith knock, whatever is shut will be opened 
 to you by the Porter of whom Jesus speaks 
 in the gospel of John." Like the son of 
 Leonidas, Antonio Bishallany loved the Bible 
 and read it, and commended it to his friends 
 and countrymen. He no doubt had read in 
 his Bible the case of Daniel, who, when re- 
 quired by a decree of king Darius to refrain 
 
58 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 from offering any petition to any god or man, 
 except to the king himself, regarded his obli- 
 gations to the King of kings superior to the 
 royal mandate, and three times a day prayed 
 and gave thanks before his God. And he 
 had also read the story of the three young 
 men who, when required by the decree of 
 king Nebuchadnezzer to bow down to and 
 worship the golden image, refused to obey a 
 command so directly in conflict with the law 
 of God. And Antonio was no doubt confirmed 
 in his convictions of duty, and strengthened 
 in his purposes of obeying God rather than 
 man, by these interesting examples. As 
 Daniel was not afraid of the lions' den, and 
 as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were 
 not terrified by the fiery furnace, but would 
 rather suffer agony and death than violate 
 their consciences and sin against God, so 
 Antonio was willing to incur the indignation 
 of priests, and the displeasure of his family 
 and friends, and whatever suffering might 
 be inflicted upon him, rather than act in 
 opposition to his convictions of duty, and 
 offend that. glorious Being whom he revered 
 and loved. 
 
INTOLERANCE. 59 
 
 However painful the treatment Antonio 
 received from the rulers of the church and 
 his relatives and neighbors — however strong 
 the aversion and hostility awakened against 
 him — he could not have been surprised, for he 
 knew that the same exclusive and intolerant 
 spirit once dwelt in him. While he was in 
 the employment of the Italian consul, he was 
 a bigoted Maronite Catholic, and relates that 
 upon one occasion he violently closed the 
 door upon a converted Romanist, and vigor- 
 ously and harshly denounced his unfaithful- 
 ness. Referring to his conduct and condi- 
 tion, he would say that "he was as bad as 
 the worst of them." Had occasion been pre- 
 sented, he would have joined in the opposi- 
 tion of his sect against all who presumed to 
 differ from him in opinion, and been ready, 
 like Paul, to persecute the church, and carry 
 men and women to prison. But with Paul 
 he had now obtained mercy, and experienced 
 a wonderful change through the grace of 
 God. A great light had shone upon him. 
 The love of Christ had taken possession of 
 his heart, and he had learned to love all, 
 of whatever name, who loved the Lord Jesus 
 
60 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 in sincerity and truth. His sectarianism had 
 given way to a universal benevolence. He 
 did not limit the existence of piety to any par- 
 ticular church, but was ready to recognize 
 and admire it, under whatever external form 
 it appeared. Discovering that freedom of 
 thought, of opinion, of conscience, and of 
 speech were enjoyed among Protestants — 
 that among them the Bible was an open 
 book, accessible to all the people, and that 
 encouragement was given by them to the 
 dissemination of light and knowledge, he was 
 naturally led to identify himself with them, 
 and become, in sympathy and affection, in 
 faith and practice, a sincere and humble, a 
 steadfast and faithful Protestant Christian. 
 
AS DRAGOMAN. 61 
 
 CHAPTEE III. 
 
 After Antonio's banishment from his fa- 
 ther's house, he was thrown upon his own 
 resources. His services with the Italian con- 
 sul for a while furnished him a comfortable 
 and pleasant means of living; but having 
 for some cause relinquished this position, 
 he was obliged to seek other employment. 
 Beady to engage in any honest occupation, 
 however humble, he became, in 1850, a drag- 
 oman or guide to travellers. The word drag- 
 oman properly means an interpreter. But 
 one serving in this capacity in eastern coun- 
 tries, provides horses, or mules, or camels, 
 for the conveyance of travellers, furnishes 
 tents and provision for their accommodation 
 on the journey, selects the best route, and 
 adopts every means to secure the safety and 
 comfort of those by whom he is employed. 
 Antonio was active in his new profession, and 
 skilful in the various duties required ; and by 
 his obliging disposition and affable manners, 
 
62 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 contributed greatly to the pleasure of the 
 company committed to his care and guidance. 
 He once accompanied an English gentleman 
 to Alexandria, in Egypt, and thence a party 
 up the Mle ; and often served as a guide to 
 travellers from the United State, on their 
 journeys through Syria and the Holy Land. 
 During this period a great thought was 
 awakened in his mind, a noble and benevolent 
 desire began to swell his heart. Love to 
 the Saviour, and love to the souls of men, 
 beoame the controlling principles of his 
 character ; and reflecting upon the question, 
 how he could most effectually honor the Sav- 
 iour and save perishing men, he conceived 
 the idea of becoming a missionary, and de- 
 sired to go forth as an authorized messenger 
 of the gospel, to proclaim the news of salva- 
 tion to a benighted world. The desire to do 
 good to others is the natural effect of piety; 
 but it may be that certain circumstances con- 
 tributed to turn the feelings of Antonio in 
 this direction. Probably his different and 
 extended tours as dragoman, giving him an 
 opportunity of seeing the wide fields of moral 
 destitution, and the multitudes who needed 
 
MISSIONARY LOGGINGS. 63 
 
 the bread of life, tended to call forth his com- 
 passion; and perhaps his frequent observa- 
 tion of the missionaries in Syria, and the 
 good work in which they were engaged, 
 created a desire to be occupied in the 
 same holy calling. "Whatever suggested the 
 thought, it was one he cherished with pecul- 
 iar ardor. He beheld millions around him # 
 living in ignorance of evangelical truth, de- 
 luded by a false religion, and going on to 
 death without a preparation to meet their 
 God ; and he was ready to say, " Woe is me, 
 if I preach not the gospel," and do not seek 
 to rescue from ruin a dying race, and espec- 
 ially my kinsmen according to the flesh. 
 
 As a preparatory step towards carrying 
 out his purpose, he purchased a book con- 
 taining sentences in Arabic with the English 
 translation. This work he studied atten- 
 tively, in order to become capable of reading 
 and speaking the English language ; for he 
 had discovered from travellers and other 
 sources, that an acquaintance with our lan- 
 guage would be of essential benefit to him, 
 both in the acquisition of knowledge and in 
 communicating instruction to others. 
 
64 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 He had heard by some means of a school 
 on the island of Malta, where pious youth 
 were gratuitously educated and prepared for 
 the missionary work, and he at once applied 
 to secure the advantages thus offered. But 
 he met with disappointment. For some rea- 
 son he failed to gain admission to the insti- 
 ♦ tution. Deeply lamenting his want of suc- 
 cess, but not weakened in purpose or dis- 
 couraged, for he had strong faith in God and 
 believed some way would be opened in His 
 providence by which the desire of his heart 
 would be attained, he resumed his occupa- 
 tion as dragoman, and for some time offici- 
 ated as the guide and social attendant of 
 persons who went from this and other coun- 
 tries to visit that land so associated with sa- 
 cred memories, the land familiarized by our 
 scriptural readings, where the gospel was first 
 proclaimed, and where the divine Redeemer 
 lived and died. The acquaintance which 
 Antonio formed with these different travel- 
 lers, being in general gentlemen of intelli- 
 gence and reputation, must have contributed 
 much to his improvement both in mind and 
 manners. And it is not unlikely that Iris in- 
 
AMERICAN TRAVELLERS. 65 
 
 tercourse with travellers from America had 
 an influence in controlling his determination 
 for the future; for it seems he now directed 
 his own thoughts to this country, and ex- 
 pressed a desire to come to the United 
 States, hoping that greater facilities might 
 be enjoyed in obtaining an education. He 
 thought also of this country as the country 
 from which the good missionaries had come, 
 and he wished to see the land where the 
 Spirit of Christ so prevailed. 
 
 Among the travellers in Syria who became 
 acquainted with the subject of this biogra- 
 phy, was a well-known and intelligent Chris- 
 tian gentleman of New York. As he was in 
 daily intercourse with Antonio, and had every 
 opportunity of observing his character, it will 
 be interesting to quote from a sketch he has 
 kindly furnished. 
 
 " My first recollection of Antonio Bishal- 
 lany is, that upon a pleasant morning in No- 
 vember, 1852, a bright-eyed, intelligent look- 
 ing, cheerful native, in the attire and having 
 the olive complexion of his race, was exhibit- 
 ing in the court-yard of our hotel in Beirut a 
 book containing words and sentences in Ara- 
 
 Bishallany. j) 
 
66 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 bic with the corresponding English opposite, 
 which, when asked, he agreed to sell, but with- 
 out the anxiety for money which is character- 
 istic of the people generally. I well remem- 
 ber the sweet and guileless smile with which 
 he replied, 'No, sir,' to an offer by one of our 
 friends of a sum less than he asked. I soon 
 afterwards learned that he had been engaged 
 by the dragoman whom we had selected to 
 conduct us to Egypt, and would accompany 
 us in the capacity of cook. I also learned 
 that he owned one of the tents and other por- 
 tions of the equipments for our journey. 
 
 "During the first day after leaving Beirut, 
 as indeed during the whole period we were 
 together, Antonio was uniformly cheerful, 
 kind, and obliging. His gentleness of de- 
 meanor, activity, and simplicity of character, 
 joined to keenness and self-reliance, were 
 indeed marked. When we arrived at the 
 camping-ground, after our first day's journey, 
 Antonio was all activity. The stove, a lo.ig 
 kind of grate supported by four legs, was soon 
 in place, the several saucepans and pots were 
 in requisition for our dinners, and in a compar- 
 atively short space of time our meal was an- 
 
TOUR IN EGYPT. 6? 
 
 noimcecl, and in the variety of dishes and style 
 of cooking he did himself great credit. We 
 speedily concluded Antonio was a good cook, 
 and never afterwards had occasion to offer a 
 complaint. It ought perhaps to be remarked, 
 that it is usual for those intending to become 
 guides or dragomen, to become attached to 
 travelling parties in some inferior capacity, 
 in order to learn the roads and names of 
 towns and villages, and to secure a capital 
 for purchasing the necessary outfit. Anto- 
 nio's knowledge of English was very limited, 
 so that it was impossible to carry on conver- 
 sation with him. He spoke Italian fluently, 
 of which unfortunately all of our party were 
 ignorant. The book of which I have spoken 
 was often in his hands, and on almost every 
 day he would ride up to us asking the pro- 
 nunciation or signification of some word. 
 His merry-hear tedness was a subject of re- 
 mark. I do not remember to have seen him 
 really angry. After or during the progress 
 of apparently sharp and contentious discus- 
 sions in his native tongue, his hearty ringing 
 laugh would be heard, and if addressed im- 
 mediately, his winning voice and his placid 
 
63 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 smile, to which all his features contributed, 
 would show that anger had not taken hold 
 of his heart. 
 
 "He once related to me that, while taking 
 some travellers over the desert between Da- 
 mascus and Palmyra, complaint was made 
 to him that during an encampment a man's 
 head and shoulders were discovered beneath 
 the canvas of the tent, with the evident in- 
 tention of appropriating something belong- 
 ing to those inside — the Arabs being much 
 given to pilfering. Antonio went directly to 
 the sheikh, who is in that country always 
 held responsible for the acts of those under 
 him. He was put off with the assurance that 
 the disturbance was caused by a camel who 
 got too near and stuck in his head. Antonio 
 did not press the matter further, but the next 
 night kept watch with a stout stick ; and when 
 the intruder again appeared, gave him some 
 blows well laid on, all the time denouncing 
 the camel for his ill-manners. The next day 
 he told the sheikh that the camel had repeat- 
 ed the experiment, but he did not believe he 
 would try it again ; and then looking at the 
 bandaged head of the other, inquired the 
 
TOUR IN EGYPT. 69 
 
 reason with not a little surprise. The sheikh, 
 who himself was the intruder, endeavored to 
 explain the cause of his injuries by saying 
 that a camel had suddenly risen as he was 
 mounting, and threw him upon the ground. 
 
 " Our difference in language of course pre- 
 vented religious conversation, but we knew 
 that Antonio was a Protestant. It was nec- 
 essary that he should not make an ostenta- 
 tious display, for his own peace and safety, 
 but he was no religious coward. Thus I re- 
 member that he attended religious services 
 at Damascus on the Sabbath, at which I was 
 not a little surprised. He has since told me 
 that he was obliged to approach the place in 
 a roundabout way, and through unfrequented 
 streets, that he might not be discovered by 
 the bigoted Mohammedans or scarcely less 
 bigoted Catholics. His full eastern dress 
 would have exposed him to detection and 
 annoyance, if not danger. 
 
 " He did not seem lazy or easily fatigued. 
 "We usually ate breakfast by candlelight, 
 and arose about five o'clock, but were never 
 detained for breakfast; and the meal over, 
 the cooking utensils were speedily cleansed 
 
70 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 and packed for their place on the ranle's 
 back. So when we halted at evening, there 
 was a prompt unpacking and speedy prepa- 
 ration. His was an interested activity; he 
 derived absolute pleasure from the perform- 
 ance of duty, and seemed to have in view 
 some higher purpose, to be actuated by some 
 nobler motive than simply pecuniary gain. 
 His good-natured exuberance found vent 
 upon several occasions in a dance. He was 
 urged by some who knew his skill, to enter- 
 tain them. On two occasions I went to the 
 spot, and found Antonio going through the 
 steps and wriggling motions of body called 
 in the East dancing, while the entertained 
 spectators squatted after the eastern fashion 
 in a circle around him. At Cairo we parted 
 from him. The only favor he asked was a 
 recommendation, which we gladly gave. 
 There was no demand nor hint for the cus- 
 tomary bucksheesh. His modest, gentle, 
 and obliging demeanor confirmed the high 
 opinion previously formed of him." 
 
 The foregoing statement is especially val- 
 uable for the light it throws upon the every- 
 day character of our young friend. We see 
 
FRIENDS IN AMERICA. 71 
 
 him here in his familiar, unrestrained con- 
 duct, in which without disguise he acts out 
 his natural disposition; and we cannot but 
 admire the energy and activity, together with 
 the innocent playfulness of his character, 
 his firm adherence to his own convictions of 
 duty, and his constant desire to promote the 
 comfort and secure the approbation of those 
 whom he was called to serve. It is not sur- 
 prising that the writer of the sketch just 
 given should form a strong and lasting at- 
 tachment to one possessed of these interest- 
 ing qualities. 
 
 The desire of Antonio to come to America 
 was sensibly increased by having thus be- 
 come acquainted with and secured the friend- 
 ly feeling of several influential citizens of 
 New York, from whom he might expect a 
 kind reception if he should ever reach these 
 distant shores. Other friends too, whom he 
 accompanied through different parts of his 
 own land, he remembered with interest, and 
 would be glad to meet again. But chiefly 
 was he influenced by the impression that in 
 this country of churches and Bibles and 
 schools and Christian benevolence, whence 
 
72 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 many missionaries of the cross had been sent 
 forth, he might obtain the advantages of ed- 
 ucation, and become fitted to go back to his 
 native country to preach Christ Jesus and 
 him crucified. 
 
 After months of solemn consideration, and 
 having no doubt prayed to God for his direc- 
 tion, he came to the determination that he 
 would bid farewell, at least for a season, to 
 the land of his birth, and visit the United 
 States. About August, 1854, he converted 
 his little property into cash, amounting to 
 about $300. He owned some real estate in 
 the neighborhood of his former residence on 
 mount Lebanon, which, from some peculiar- 
 ity in eastern law, he could not sell. He is 
 thought to have said that it was necessary 
 to obtain the consent of the neighbors; but 
 either from their unwillingness to give con- 
 sent, or his want of time to await their action 
 in the matter, he was obliged to leave the 
 property unsold. 
 
 Having made arrangements for his depar- 
 ture, his heart turned once more with long- 
 ing affection towards his beloved relatives. 
 He gained an interview with his brothers, 
 
AN UNNATURAL MOTHER. 73 
 
 who liacl not spoken to him since the period 
 he became an exile from his home. But as 
 to his mother, her rancorous feelings had not 
 abated. She viewed him as a vile apostate, 
 and barred both her heart and her doors 
 against him. Keluctant to go away, perhaps 
 never to return, without seeing her who had 
 given him birth, who had nursed and cher- 
 ished him, and over whom his kind heart 
 yearned with all the tencl,erness of filial affec- 
 tion, he addressed a letter to her, stating his 
 intention to sail for a foreign land, and beg- 
 ging the privilege of having an interview with 
 her, it might be for the last time on earth. 
 Strange to say, this appeal to her heart under 
 circumstances so affecting met no response. 
 She refused to see him ; and Antonio with 
 sorrowful heart was compelled to leave his 
 native land, it might be for ever, without bid- 
 ding farewell, or even taking a last look at 
 her whom he had been accustomed to address 
 by the sacred and endearing name of mother. 
 One cannot but think of that touching pas- 
 sage of Scripture, " Can a woman forget her 
 sucking child, that she should not have com- 
 passion on the son of her womb? Yea, she 
 
74 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 may forget; yet will I not forget thee." 
 There are instances in which natural affec- 
 tion becomes extinguished, and even a mother 
 will forget and turn away with indifference 
 from her own son ; but God is unchangeable 
 in his love. I will never, no, never leave thee ; 
 I will never, no, never forsake thee. This 
 promise Antonio's Bible had made familiar 
 to him; and in the trials of this unnatural 
 orphanage, when cast off by an only earthly 
 parent, he looked upward to his Father in 
 heaven, and found comfort in his everlasting 
 love. 
 
 Antonio took ship Aug. 22, 1854, and soon 
 the vessel was gliding away frorn the shore 
 upon the bosom of the Mediterranean. As 
 the city of Beirut gradually vanished from 
 his sight, and the blue summits of Lebanon 
 were seen in the dim distance, his heart 
 swelled with emotion at the recollection of 
 his mountain home. The scenes of his child- 
 hood, the vineyards and olive-gardens, and 
 the humble cottage where once he enjoyed 
 his parents' smiles, passed in review before 
 his mind. He thought too of the trials 
 through which he had passed, the alienation 
 
SAILS FROM BEIRUT. 75 
 
 of friends, the death of his father and the 
 withdrawal of his mother's love, and the cold 
 reserve of his brothers, with whom he had 
 grown up in the indulgence of the sweetest 
 confidence and affection. Thoughts like these 
 could not be otherwise than productive of 
 pensive feelings, especially when he began to 
 realize that the wide abyss of waters would 
 intervene between him and these objects of 
 interest, and that possibly he might never 
 again behold his native land. Still he was 
 cheerful and sanguine in disposition, and it 
 may be that his anticipations of visiting this 
 country and returning home prepared to 
 preach the gospel predominated over any 
 saddening reflections, and gave buoyancy and 
 joy to his spirit. His natural light-hearted- 
 ness would serve to spread a bright tinge 
 over the future horizon, and his strong faith 
 in God would relieve any anxiety that might 
 for a moment disturb him. He had conse- 
 crated himself to the Lord : to become a mis- 
 sionary was the object of the voyage he had 
 undertaken ; and he was happy in the pros- 
 pect of accomplishing his purpose and com- 
 ing back to tell to perishing souls the glad 
 
76 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 tidings of salvation. Still he knew not what 
 were God's designs with regard to him, and 
 therefore he trusted in the Lord, believing 
 that, whether he lived to return or found a 
 grave in a distant land, all would be well. 
 
 To a mind observing and reflective like 
 Antonio's, a voyage upon the ocean must 
 have furnished subjects of exciting interest. 
 What incidents occurred on the passage, 
 whether the vessel encountered violent storms 
 or was favored with calm weather, we know 
 not; or whether Antonio found agreeable 
 companions, or met with any Christian friend 
 who could take an interest in his case and 
 cherish a brotherly affection ; but judging 
 from his general affability of manners and 
 anxiety to gather instruction froin those to 
 whom he could gain access, we presume he 
 was not obliged to feel himself alone, but 
 found in the ship's company those who were 
 attracted by his striking qualities, and were 
 ready to give him expressions of kindly rec- 
 ognition and benevolent feeling. "When it 
 was known that he had become a convert to 
 the Protestant faith, and had renounced his 
 former religion in the face of persecution and 
 
THE VOYAGE. 17 
 
 trial, and that he was on his way to America 
 to prepare to instruct others in the truths 
 which had been the source of light and sal- 
 vation to his own soul, a chord of sympathy 
 and affection must have been touched in 
 hearts which would vibrate in unison with 
 his. There is something in religion that ren- 
 ders its possessors easily recognized by each 
 other as the friends of Christ. Their thoughts 
 and feelings run so much in the same chan- 
 nel, that there is some outward expression of 
 the family likeness that at once indicates 
 from what Father they descended. Hence 
 in a promiscuous company it is not long be- 
 fore they who have drank in the same spirit 
 and love the same Saviour know and love 
 each other. And this knowledge and affec- 
 tion is not confined to any sect or tribe, or 
 complexion or country. As religion is one 
 under all circumstances, it will bear its pe- 
 culiar features whether under the dress of an 
 Arab, the dark skin of an African, or the 
 light complexion and more polished exterior 
 of one of our own citizens. Antonio's olive- 
 colored face and eastern costume did not 
 obstruct the outgoings of those Christian 
 
T8 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 sentiments and emotions that characterized 
 him as a disciple of Jesus, or prevent that 
 mysterious drawing of heart to heart which 
 belongs to the different members of Christ's 
 body. 
 
 Whether he thus met with spirits congenial 
 with his own, or was left a silent and unno- 
 ticed stranger, certain it is there was one 
 Friend with whom he held delightful inter- 
 course. He was accustomed to walk with God, 
 to commune with him in spirit, and draw sweet 
 enjoyment from his presence and love. 
 
 By meditation and prayer, and the habit- 
 ual study of his precious Bible, he improv- 
 ed the days and weeks he spent upon the 
 water, and experienced, in exercises so adapt- 
 ed to his taste and feelings, great enjoyment. 
 The Christian's happiest hours are those he 
 spends alone with God — when he feels the 
 quickening power of the divine Spirit, receives 
 the witness of his being born again, and with 
 filial confidence can look up and say, Abba, 
 Father. These are joys which a stranger 
 knoweth not, which are unspeakable and full 
 of glory, and compared with which the pleas- 
 ures of this world are emptiness and vanity. 
 
IN BOSTON. 19 
 
 In October, 1854, Antonio landed at Bos- 
 ton, thankful to Him who nileth the winds 
 and the waves, for the preservation of his 
 kind providence. The appearance of a city 
 in this western world, so different from orien- 
 tal cities and towns in the style of architec- 
 ture, streets, conveyances, and costume of 
 the people, must have deeply interested him, 
 and we presume that few objects escaped the 
 notice of his observing eye. 
 
 Having brought with him letters of intro- 
 duction and recommendation from the mis- 
 sionaries at Beirut to their Christian friends, 
 he at once sought them out, and was received 
 by them with kindness and courtesy. Bos- 
 ton being the seat of the American Board 
 of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, by 
 whom the missionaries in Syria had been 
 sent out to their field of labor, and Antonio 
 having been personally acquainted with those 
 Christian laborers, and bearing dispatches 
 from them, he would naturally be regarded 
 as a welcome visitor, and be the object of 
 sympathy and attention among the friends 
 of Christ in that city. While he sojourned 
 there, he was kindly aided and directed, 
 
80 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 and received his first experience in America 
 of fraternal love and hospitality. 
 
 His desire and intention being especially 
 directed to seeing gentlemen in New York, 
 with whom he had formed a pleasant acquaint- 
 ance in Syria, he did not tarry long in Bos- 
 ton, but hastened to New York, where, 
 learning on inquiry the residence of several 
 friends, he soon had the happiness of receiv- 
 ing from them a cordial recognition. 
 
 " On one afternoon in October, 1854," 
 writes one of these gentlemen, " I was aston- 
 ished by the entrance of Antonio into my 
 office in New York. He wore a full eastern 
 dress. On inquiry I found he had landed at 
 Boston, and had been brought to this city by 
 a Sound steamer, at whose dimensions, fine 
 furniture, and elaborate fittings up, he was 
 not a little surprised : that he had first found 
 another and elder member of our Syrian 
 party, and then came to myself. He has 
 since told me, when I asked him what he 
 knew of America, and what reason he had 
 to expect a favorable reception from Ameri- 
 cans, that he knew the country only as the 
 end of the world, having no idea of its geo- 
 
IN NEW YORK. 81 
 
 graphical position ; and that he judged of 
 his reception by what he had observed of the 
 American character in his own country. 
 
 " After visiting his friends and meeting 
 with the kindest treatment, he accepted the 
 position of waiter in a family on the Fifth 
 avenue. His object in doing so was, while 
 earning a livelihood, to become acquainted 
 with our habits, and learn the English lan- 
 guage. While here he was taken sick, and 
 was so affected by the care and attention be- 
 stowed upon him by the female head of the 
 family, that he never seemed able, though 
 he often tried, to express his appreciation of 
 the kindness, and his weight of obligation to 
 
 Mrs. H g, for her unmerited favors. He 
 
 did not seem able to understand how it was 
 that with her own hands she should bring 
 him food and administer to his wants ; and 
 usually wound up, as when upon other oc- 
 casions alluding to other kind offices towards 
 him he found himself unable to command 
 terms expressive of his deep feeling, with 
 the remark, ' Well, this is not of man ; 't is 
 all of the Lord.' 
 
 "At this time I was particularly struck 
 
 Bislmllany. Q 
 
82 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 with a remarkable feature of his character. 
 It must be remembered that he was brought 
 up in the humblest society of a Lebanon vil- 
 lage. At times, when comparing the mode 
 of life among his own people with that in 
 America, he used to say it was a life of beasts, 
 and not of men. The feature to which I al- 
 lude is, that, while faithful in the performance 
 of the duties of his position, he was entirely 
 at home in the most polite society, and was 
 welcomed as a guest in the houses of our 
 wealthiest and most influential citizens. He 
 seemed to prove the truth of Pope, 
 
 ' Honor and fame from no condition rise.' 
 He was not awkwardly bashful, nor shrink- 
 ingly timid. On the other hand he was 
 always self-possessed, poised, and graceful ; 
 and yet there was no approach to presump- 
 tion. He did not force himself upon atten- 
 tion, nor was it necessary. His nativity, his- 
 tory, vivacity, gentleness, intelligence, win- 
 ning amiability, and easy, one might say pol- 
 ished manners, everywhere opened and kept 
 open a door for liim. It indicated to my 
 mind the highest simplicity of character and 
 propriety of view, that he could gain and 
 
TRUE SELF-RESPECT. 83 
 
 maintain such a position. In his employer's 
 family, he was looked upon and treated rather 
 as an equal ; and yet he could, without loss 
 of self-respect, and without lowering himself 
 in the eyes of his friends, act as became a 
 servant? 
 
 "In Syria he had made the acquaintance 
 of a member of a family living on one of our 
 fashionable avenues. When he first arrived 
 in the city, he was very cordially received; 
 but after assuming our dress and finding 
 employment, he noticed a change in manner. 
 He related the incident to me with a great 
 deal of earnestness, and an expression of 
 deep sorrow that a foolish pride should thus 
 gain ascendency in the human heart, follow- 
 ed, I think, with a laugh at the folly which 
 would erect this artificial barrier. I have 
 forgotten the particular manifestations which 
 led to this inference, and mention the inci- 
 dent to show his penetration, ready appre- 
 hension, and just discrimination between re- 
 quiring from a servant, whoever he may be, 
 a full performance of duty, and treating him 
 outside of his position according to his mer- 
 its and defects as a man. 
 
84 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 " At tins time, early in 1855, Antonio be- 
 gan to exhibit a strong desire for knowledge, 
 which soon became intense. He began to 
 study by himself, getting from time to time 
 from his friends such aid as they could render, 
 and if I mistake not, commenced attending a 
 public school. 
 
 " The book which he loved best to read 
 and study was the Bible. If he called upon 
 a friend, and was left alone a few moments, 
 and there was a Bible in the room, he would 
 be found reading it when you entered; and 
 in all probability, after the usual salutations 
 and careful inquiry after the health of the 
 several members of the family, as to which 
 he was very particular, he w r ould ask your 
 opinion of some passage of Scripture about 
 which he was exercised, or else would sub- 
 mit his own views for your examination. It 
 might be well to say that he almost always 
 had on hand a particular line of investiga- 
 tion, and seldom or never submitted for opin- 
 ion a general truth, or inquired about some 
 doctrine, but sought the signification of a 
 portion of Scripture. 
 
 " There soon was apparent a longing desire 
 
EFFORTS TO DO GOOD. 85 
 
 to do good. He was much curbed and inca- 
 pacitated by his limited knowledge of our 
 language ; but if ever a man used in this re- 
 spect to the uttermost his single talent, it was 
 he. As his increasing acquaintance with the 
 language enabled him, he extended the field 
 of his usefulness. He seemed intuitively 
 to feel or sagaciously to discover that his 
 proper field of labor was with the lower 
 classes, and especially, if not exclusively, 
 Roman-catholics. Against popery he had a 
 deep and bitter hatred, and was wont to term 
 it 'the mother of harlots,' and apply other 
 terms taken from Revelation. He came to 
 see me very frequently, and would relate his 
 experiences during the day, and ask my opin- 
 ions upon Scripture and other points, but 
 especially the former. I was engaged in a 
 business enterprise which taxed and perplex- 
 ed me greatly, and unfitted me to listen to 
 him with the same interest and extend to 
 him the aid which I could now. I think with 
 delight of the kind charity with which, dis- 
 covering my weariness, and perhaps impa- 
 tience, he would seek some other member of 
 the family, and full of sprightliness and 
 
86 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 laughing good-nature, dropping the subject 
 which immediately interested him, would 
 seek to converse upon some other acceptable 
 topic, or else, rising to leave at a compara- 
 tively early hour, would shake my hand for 
 good-night, with a pleasant smile and hearti- 
 ness of manner which indicated that he more 
 than appreciated my feelings and position, 
 and had not in his heart a thought of cen- 
 sure or complaint. 
 
 " One evening he told me that the Rev. 
 Dr. Tyng had asked him if he would like to 
 study theology, and become a missionary, 
 and his reply was, that such was his object 
 in coming to America. I was surprised at 
 this; and finding that such was his deeply 
 cherished design and intention, sought an 
 arrangement by which he could be gratified. 
 He accordingly left his position, and in con- 
 nection with giving lessons in Arabic, which 
 aided considerably in his support, went to 
 school, and also took private lessons at his 
 house. "It was almost painful to witness his 
 close application and intense earnestness. 
 He grappled with the difficulties of our lan- 
 guage with a determination to conquer, stim- 
 
ZEAL IN STUDY. __ 87 
 
 ulated to new effort by new difficulties. Ir- 
 regularities in spelling and pronunciation 
 and grammatical construction tried liim sore- 
 ly, but lie never despaired. He had now 
 taken board, and the late hour at which a 
 light could be seen in his room attested his 
 studious habits and industry. Beading, writ- 
 ing, spelling, and grammar were his various 
 studies, not omitting the holy Scriptures, 
 which he studied more than all the rest, and 
 a large Webster dictionary which he con- 
 stantly consulted. He read in many books 
 which he had purchased, or which were given 
 him, to aid in the elucidation of some point 
 which perplexed him. It has been surprising 
 to me, that with his impetuous enthusiasm, he 
 could persevere in a detailed study that he 
 undertook, though he could advance only 
 step by step. 
 
 " He had undoubtedly wonderful clearness 
 in his apprehension of Scripture. He was 
 conscious and confident of this fact, and he 
 chafed under his limited knowledge of the 
 language. ' Oh if I had only knowledge of 
 the English language to express myself!' he 
 often said. He longed to communicate his 
 
88 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 views of Bible truth, and especially to over- 
 throw what he believed to be the errors of 
 Romanism, which with his own experience 
 and light he felt abundantly able to do." 
 
 "I remember that Antonio came to me one 
 day with a Bible opened at Matthew, with 
 the request that I would hear his exposition 
 of the eighteenth verse of the sixteenth 
 chapter. I listened in surprise at his skilful 
 exposition ; and then, at his request, referred 
 to Clark's commentary, which I had before 
 consulted when he came to me with hard 
 questions. I found that the learned doctor 
 and the sagacious Syrian adopted the same 
 interpretation. 
 
 " On another occasion I was pushing him 
 hard upon some doctrine or some passage of 
 Scripture which he could not explain, or 
 which perhaps was inexplicable, when with a 
 solemn, mysterious look he said, ' There are 
 some things which cannot be understood, 
 and which, if we try too hard to compass, or 
 are too anxious to comprehend, will make 
 us infidels.' He then quickly turned to Gen- 
 esis, and pointing me to the twenty-sixth 
 verse of the first chapter, where the plural is 
 
HIS BURNING ZEAL. 89 
 
 employed by God in speaking of himself, 
 'Let us make man in our image,' asked me 
 to reconcile it, if I could, with the singular 
 number employed in the following verses, or 
 to other teachings that there is but one 
 God." 
 
 The very interesting description thus given 
 by one who was personally acquainted with 
 Antonio, and observed his daily life, cannot 
 fail to convey the impression that he was a 
 young man of superior qualities of heart and 
 mind. His gentleness and amiable spirit; 
 his humble piety ; his quick discernment ; his 
 thirst for knowledge, and his determined per- 
 severance in obtaining it, are all conspicuous, 
 and gave promise that, if his life should be 
 spared, he would become an able and faith- 
 ful minister of Jesus. On this object he had 
 placed his heart, and the desire and expecta- 
 tion of going back to Syria to publish to his 
 own people the glad tidings of great joy ani- 
 mated his mind, and gave him an interest in 
 his studies. " He fairly burned with zeal for 
 his divine Master." 
 
 From the severity of our climate acting 
 
90 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 upon a system accustomed to the warm tem- 
 perature of an oriental country, or other 
 causes, his health became somewhat serious- 
 ly affected, and with the view of affording 
 him the advantage of a change of air and 
 other remedial agencies, his kind friend Mr. 
 
 H r, in the summer of 1855, took him with 
 
 him to Richfield Springs. 
 
 Before he left the city, he desired to be 
 numbered among the members of Christ's 
 visible church. He had openly avowed him- 
 self, both by word and deed, a friend of Christ 
 and of his cause, but had never yet made 
 a profession of his faith by identifying him- 
 self with any particular body of Christians. 
 He wished to be one of the Lord's flock in 
 name as well as in deed, and to participate 
 in the privileges of his house — to enjoy more 
 fully the communion of the saints, and espec- 
 ially to commemorate with them the suffer- 
 ings and death of their divine Lord and Sav- 
 iour. He therefore connected himself about 
 this time with the Pilgrim church on Union- 
 square, from whose pastor and members he 
 received uniform and continued aid and 
 kindness during his life. He was grateful to 
 
AT RICHFIELD SPRINGS. 91 
 
 them, and I doubt not their reward will be 
 that promised by Christ to such as fed, or 
 clothed, or cared for the least of his disci- 
 ples. 
 
 The Springs being beautifully situated in 
 a mountainous region, and a place of popular 
 resort, Antonio had an opportunity of mak- 
 ing many friends, several of whom he after- 
 wards carefully cherished. It was his spe- 
 cial pleasure to roam off with the children. 
 He became one of them, entering heartily 
 into their feelings, and participating in their 
 sports. Usually one or more servants would 
 accompany them to take charge of some of 
 the children, and this opportunity he would 
 embrace to expose the errors of Romanism, 
 and to set forth Jesus Christ and him cru- 
 cified. 
 
 A Christian lady of this city who met An- 
 tonio at the Springs, and became one of his 
 real friends, thus refers to him : 
 
 " The short period that we were thrown 
 together at Richfield convinced me that he 
 was far from being well, though he would 
 not allow there was any thing serious in his 
 slight cough. You could not be with him 
 
92 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 without observing how rapidly and wonder- 
 fully the powers of his mind were being de- 
 veloped. 
 
 " Day after day would he sit with his Bible 
 before him, so completely absorbed in it that 
 it mattered not how many were around him 
 or how much conversation was carried on. 
 His whole soul and thoughts were on the 
 study of that book which was so precious to 
 him. If any other book was offered him to 
 read, no matter how good a one, he would 
 smilingly say, ' I thank you, lady, but it will 
 take too much time, and will not teach me 
 what this will,' laying his hand on the Bible. 
 Friends would tell him they feared he applied 
 himself too closely to study, and suggested 
 his taking more recreation and exercise ; but 
 he would say, 'O no, dear lady; do not fear 
 for me. I must lose no time in learning my 
 Master's will.' It was double labor with him, 
 for he had but little knowledge of our lan- 
 guage. He was obliged to ask the meaning 
 of many words, and often to consume the 
 whole day over part of a chapter. But it 
 was wonderful to see how correctly and 
 clearly he seemed to comprehend the truth. 
 
MISSIONARY SPIRIT. 93 
 
 Dwelling on the love of God in sending the 
 Bible to him, ' I never go to bed,' said he, 
 ' that I do not thank my heavenly Father 
 for sending the English Bible to my country; 
 and the only way I can show God how much 
 I love him, is to devote my whole life to his 
 service.' The subject would light up his eye 
 with new life, and make him the more desdr- 
 ous of understanding our language. 
 
 "His desire to preach the gospel increased 
 daily. If asked which persuasion he would 
 unite with, he would answer, ' Adam and Eve 
 were my father and mother, the whole world 
 are my brethren and sisters, and Christ is 
 my head. I am an evangelist ; that was my 
 Saviour when he was upon earth, and I must 
 labor to bring in lost sheep that have been 
 led away from Christ's fold and truth by the 
 false shepherds.' He would converse often 
 in a figurative manner which was very beau- 
 tiful. On speaking to him one day of my 
 being thrown among a number of Jews, he 
 exclaimed with great energy, ' How I wish I 
 had been with you.' I said, I fear they would 
 not have talked with you on the subject of 
 religion. ' Oh,' said he, ' I would have talked 
 
94 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 to you, and it would be as if I should dash 
 rny stick into the water very hard; perhaps 
 some of the drops would fall on those around.' 
 He was very fearless, and seemed to feel a 
 particular interest in Catholics, for he said 
 they have not the true light set before them. 
 Of his mother it was extremely touching to 
 see his great desire to hear from her. One 
 kind word from her would have filled his cup 
 of happiness. When he referred to her, his 
 countenance would change and his eyes 
 would fill as he spoke of her alienation from 
 him ; and until the last he hoped to hear 
 from her: but he had given up mother and 
 brothers for Christ." 
 
AT AMENIA SEMINAEY. 95 
 
 CHAPTEE IV. 
 
 In the fall of this year, 1855, Antonio be- 
 came a pupil in the Amenia Seminary in 
 Dutchess county, N. Y. Soon after his arri- 
 val at that institution, he wrote to his friend 
 Mr. H : 
 
 " After my respects, you must know that I 
 came here with my body, but my heart is 
 remained with you. Now when I have ar- 
 rived here, I been received by Mr. Hunt with 
 all respect and kindness, and the school very 
 convenient and respectable in all the man- 
 ners, and the delightful climate of this place 
 would be the only means to cure my cough." 
 
 He here applied himself with great dili- 
 gence to his studies, and his progress was 
 astonishingly rapid. It was indeed painful 
 to notice his husky voice and violent cough- 
 ing while he was concentrating all his ener- 
 gies upon the acquisition of the English lan- 
 guage. He returned home at the end of the 
 term, and concluded it would be imprudent 
 to return for the winter. He accordingly 
 
96 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 remained in the city, giving lessons in Arabic 
 and himself taking private lessons in Eng- 
 lish. 
 
 He occasionally walked in the beautiful 
 grounds of Union-square both for health and 
 recreation. While taking one of these ram- 
 bles he noticed a group of Italians, and over- 
 heard them conversing on the trials they had 
 experienced in their own country from read- 
 ing- the Bible. He immediately joined them, 
 and being familiar with their language, min- 
 gled with spirit in the conversation. He 
 soon drew out of them their history, and be- 
 ing a stranger himself, he sympathized with 
 them and offered them his aid. The Rev. 
 Dr. Holclich, Secretary of the American Bi- 
 ble Society, who was intimately acquainted 
 with Antonio, says of his connection with 
 these young men : 
 
 " He learned from them that in their own 
 country and city they had become interested 
 in religion. They endeavored to obtain Bi- 
 bles. They went to several bookstores, but 
 the owners said they had none. At length 
 one acknowledged that he had Bibles, but he 
 would not sell them unless on the condition 
 
YOUNG ITALIANS. 97 
 
 that they should keep the knowledge of their 
 having one from the priests, as the bookseller 
 feared he might otherwise be involved in 
 trouble. They gave the pledge and took the 
 precious volume. They read it together, and 
 were not very long in discovering that if 
 these things were so, Italy was no place for 
 them. They could no longer conform to nor 
 countenance the corruptions of the Romish 
 church, and they had better quietly take 
 their departure while they could. They came 
 to New York, and strangers and friendless 
 as they were, and ignorant of the language, 
 providentially met with Bishaliany a few 
 days after their arrival. 
 
 "The young men were artisans of some 
 sort. They united in a sort of club, took a 
 room, wrought at there avocations in the day, 
 and spent the evenings together in their re- 
 treat studying the Bible. Here Bishaliany 
 regularly met with them, assisting them in 
 their studies, and by the aid of his better 
 knowledge explaining to them what was dif- 
 ficult, and enabling them to reconcile appar- 
 ently conflicting or contradictory passages. 
 It was to help him in this that he applied for 
 
 Bishaliany. 7 
 
98 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 Bibles at the Bible-house in English and Ital- 
 ian, being very particular to ask for Bibles 
 with references, the better to aid them in 
 their researches and comparisons. 
 
 " And here I might say a word in regard to 
 his fitness for such an office. Although it was 
 difficult to converse with satisfaction owing 
 to the causes before mentioned, and because 
 in my room fronting on a noisy street we 
 were frequently interrupted both by noise and 
 by company, yet it was not difficult to per- 
 ceive that he was a young man of more than 
 ordinary mental acumen. His mind was 
 strong, his apprehension quick, his judgment 
 sound, and within his range of thought he 
 was a close thinker. He was not content 
 with skimming the surface; he wanted to 
 dive into the depths of truth. He said in his 
 peculiar way, ' If persons want to understand 
 the Bible, they must not be contented to read 
 it ; they must study, study, study ; they must 
 go deep, deep, deep ;' accompanying it with a 
 significant motion of the head, showing how 
 a person must dig deep to bring up hidden 
 treasures. It was evident that this was the 
 course he was taking with regard to the Bi- 
 
DEBATES ON ROMANISM. 99 
 
 ble. I was often surprised at the shrewd 
 and ingenious remarks he made npon the 
 Scriptures, showing not only close study and 
 familiar knowledge of the sacred contents, 
 but independent and original views. He 
 thought over the subject, and his remarks 
 were the result of his own investigations. 
 
 " It was clear that he was not familiar with 
 theological writers. I doubt whether he knew 
 what a book of biblical criticism or system- 
 atic divinity is, or had ever heard the name 
 of such a book. It may therefore be well 
 supposed that many of the thoughts which 
 would strike him with all the force of origi- 
 nal discoveries, were familiar to the minds of 
 biblical students ; yet were they none the less 
 evincive of his spirit of thoughtful and ingen- 
 ious investigation. 
 
 " On one occasion he brought with him and 
 introduced to me his three Italian friends. 
 He also related at different times conversa- 
 tions he had with Professor on the sub- 
 ject of Romanism, a system which that pro- 
 fessor had embraced, and on which Bishal- 
 lany had many and protracted discussions 
 with him. I cannot recall the substance of 
 
100 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 those conversations, nor do I know the pre- 
 cise ground assumed by the professor. I can 
 easily conceive, however, that he found in 
 our young friend no mean antagonist. He 
 had thought much upon the subject; and 
 probably his own thoughts, derived not from 
 human aids, but simply from the study of the 
 Bible, would be more effectual than any other 
 agencies that could be employed." 
 
 . We' learn from another friend of Antonio 
 that " his mind was much occupied by these 
 discussions with this gentleman of learning 
 and high cultivation. These conversations 
 would often extend over several hours a day, 
 and exercised his mind very deeply. The 
 professor brought against him arguments 
 from the fathers, of whose writings he was 
 ignorant, and from history with which he was 
 equally unacquainted, and difficult passages 
 from the Bible which had not been with him 
 a subject of special examination. He could 
 not rest contented until the fathers had been 
 consulted, and the history had been exam- 
 ined, and a true interpretation of Scripture, 
 sustaining his views, had been clearly ar- 
 rived at." 
 
LETTER ON ROMANISM. 101 
 
 Among a few papers left by Antonio is the 
 following communication, addressed to the 
 professor with whom he held these discus- 
 sions. There are numerous errors in orthog- 
 raphy, and inaccuracy in the formation of 
 sentences. Correcting these, we will give 
 an extract from the document. 
 
 " Professor Undertaking and con- 
 sulting have led me to promise myself some 
 success. I was born when the people of God in 
 Spain were perishing in the fire by the hand of 
 new Babylon's merchants — thirty-two thou- 
 sand who had not confessed to the authority 
 of the pope — and their ashes have been blown 
 or destroyed by the wind. They were living 
 in the liberty of religion. You have treated 
 them in the streams of blood and burning 
 fire. Such was the odious spectacle which 
 first presented itself to my sight, and having 
 the earth of Europe plunged in the blood of 
 the saints by the sword of him who standeth 
 on the throne of Peter. The cries of the dy- 
 ing, the groans of the oppressed, the tears of 
 despair were the companions of my infant 
 days of new birth, and you quitted that lib- 
 erty, the price of which was the blood of the 
 
102 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 only Saviour; and with it disappeared all 
 hopes of happiness. Their submission was 
 slavery, loaded with the triple chain of the 
 soldier, the legislator, and the tax-gatherer. 
 
 "While perusing their writings my heart 
 boils with indignation, and I have resolved 
 to dissipate these delusions the offspring of 
 ignorance. My early study of the word of 
 God and the English language, the arguments 
 we have had from first to last, and the me- 
 morials to which I have had access in the 
 portfolios from you and from my friends, have 
 led me to promise myself some success. I 
 wish to blacken with the pencil of dishonor 
 those who have betrayed the common poor. 
 I wish to call all the arguments which have 
 passed between you and me before the pub- 
 He opinion. Let them set forth the vexatious 
 proceedings, and expose the secret intrigues, 
 and if possible interest the present virtuous 
 community in the deplorable situation we are 
 in. Still young, my enterprise seems daring, 
 but love to the truth and to my God and 
 Lord Jesus Christ and my fellow-sheep im- 
 pels me, and awakens the enthusiasm I feel 
 at the prospect of ameliorating the condition 
 
LETTER ON ROMANISM. 103 
 
 of men with regard to the truth. I know that 
 it will arouse against me the numerous body 
 of Babylon merchants, of whom you are one — 
 those who spend all their life in cultivating 
 the fine arts of superstition. You have col- 
 lected some beautiful specimens, and in re- 
 peating* them daily, you have subdued the 
 people of God under your cunning power, 
 and especially in the almost daily practising 
 of the science of error, so as to deceive the 
 world. Bishallany has never undertaken to 
 be an insulter, neither will he be. But what 
 matters it with you doers of iniquity, that bite 
 with the teeth like the asps, and cry peace ? 
 Oh divine practice, to attack the ignorant 
 poor with violence under threats of wrath of 
 God! No, no, even the world thought you 
 unable to do it. But what matters, so far as 
 the welfare of the people of God is concern- 
 ed? If the bolt falls I shall examine my 
 heart, and shall recollect the lawfulness of 
 my motives, and at that moment I shall defy 
 it. 
 
 " How can I keep silent ? If I had kept 
 silent, the rocks would have spoken and 
 contradicted your error. Do you know that 
 
104 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 the priest of your sect said to me, Keep 
 silent; neither keep the Bible nor speak the 
 truth, or lose mother, brethren, kindred, re- 
 lations, friends, home, property, native place, 
 and country. Choose then what you will do. 
 Then I said, It is not your way only, but your 
 fathers persecuted the prophets before you. 
 Sir, I said, I rather choose the truth, which is 
 the Bible, and the powerful sword of liberty. 
 For what profit to me if I gain the whole 
 world and lose my own soul? Sir, I believe by 
 this sword I shall gain souls to Christ ; for it 
 is rather for me to gain a soul to Christ than 
 to gain mountains of gold and silver. What 
 gift shall I offer to the human family I love, 
 and to mankind, better than this mighty spir- 
 itual sword by which to deliver themselves 
 from your terror and bondage? As I know 
 how to do this good, why should I not do it? 
 To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth 
 it not, to him it is sin. James 3 :17. 
 
 " The priests of your sect hastened to the 
 church, published my name in public, saying, 
 We have paid this man for all he possessed 
 in this country, and he is like a wild bird 
 lighting in a tree in the wood — to-morrow he 
 
LETTER ON ROMANISM. 105 
 
 shall fly away. And my flight was directed 
 to America, with the same spiritual sword by 
 which the name of Christ was proclaimed. 
 And here I hope to have it polished and 
 sharpened in the theological seminary, and 
 then to draw out the spiritual sword and 
 drive away the wolves from before their cave, 
 that new Babylon of Rome, and cry, ' Come 
 out of her, my people, that ye be not partak- 
 ers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her 
 plagues; for her sins have reached unto 
 heaven, and God hath remembered her ini- 
 quities.' And this coming has begun, be- 
 ginning as when you see the sheep coming 
 out of your unclean hold, and entering Christ's 
 fold. The priests, bishops, and heads begin 
 to despair, and say, "What a pity. Oh they 
 have gone; they have perished; and so on. 
 They stand afar, and say, Alas, alas, that 
 great terror, that mighty pope, 'in one hour 
 his judgment is come,' for ' strong is the Lord 
 God who judgeth him.' 
 
 " But we know that God is merciful to them 
 who cry to him alone, according to his prom- 
 ise to our fathers: I will go always before 
 you — that is, the true church. 
 
106 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 " Before the famine came, God caused Jo- 
 seph to be sold into Egypt. After the people 
 were oppressed by the Egyptians and they 
 sighed unto God, he raised up Moses to de- 
 liver them, and he delivered them with mighty 
 power ; but when they worshipped Remphan 
 and figures the work of their hands and 
 feared them, then God said, ' I will carry you 
 beyond Babylon.' 
 
 " God spoke by Moses, ' A Prophet shall 
 the Lord your God raise up unto you of your 
 brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.' 
 Therefore Christ only we ought to hear. 
 Christ promised also to his church, that it 
 never shall fail. As God raised Joseph from 
 his brethren, Moses from Israel, Christ from 
 David according to the flesh, so God raised 
 up Luther from among the monks, to turn 
 back the worshippers of Bemphan and the 
 work of their hand from beyond Babylon. 
 And so God is raising up us, one after anoth- 
 er, to hasten the putting down Babylon dis- 
 traction. 
 
 " I remain, with respect, Professor , 
 
 your most humble and most obedient servant, 
 "A'O. BISHALLANY, from mount Lebanon." 
 
HIS PROTESTANTISM. 107 
 
 Tlie ideas liere conveyed, and the beauty 
 and force with which many of them are ut- 
 tered in a language unlike his native tongue, 
 and as yet but imperfectly acquired, indi- 
 cate a thinking mind, and excite admiration. 
 His deep conviction of the error and wicked- 
 ness of that system of religion he wished to 
 expose, and if possible, destroy ; his familiar 
 knowledge of it from childhood, and the per- 
 secutions he experienced from its adherents, 
 gave him deep and indelible impressions of 
 its false principles, its destructive tendencies, 
 and its intolerant nature ; and from the ful- 
 ness of his heart his mouth spoke, and his 
 pen wrote. His hatred of falsehood and love 
 of truth rendered him bold and emphatic in 
 condemning the one and defending the other. 
 Love to men rendered him anxious to rescue 
 them from the delusive errors of a false faith, 
 and to guide them into the path of light and 
 safety. The greater his love to the souls of 
 his fellow-men, the more he pitied those who 
 were led astray by " the sleight of men and 
 cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait 
 to deceive ;" and speaking the truth in love, 
 he tried to win them back unto the know- 
 
108 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 ledge of Christ and the doctrine that is ac- 
 cording to godliness. 
 
 The controversy Antonio held with the 
 learned professor was entered upon and pur- 
 sued as well from a sincere interest in the wel- 
 fare of his distinguished friend as from an 
 anxiety to confute his theological opinions. 
 He cherished a high personal regard for his 
 antagonist. He believed him to be in error, 
 and in an error that affected his soul's immor- 
 tal interest, and the interest of thousands over 
 whom his talents and position gave him influ- 
 ence; and trusting in the Lord of hosts, he 
 was ready, like David, to go forth with the sim- 
 ple sling of truth and meet the mighty one of 
 Gath. But it was the hand of love that used 
 that sling ; and had he conquered his eminent 
 opponent and made him a willing captive to 
 the evangelical faith, he would have rejoiced 
 in the benefit he had been the humble instru- 
 ment of conferring. 
 
 The discussions he held with this gentle- 
 man were no doubt conducted with great 
 spirit and animation. Antonio's manners 
 were earnest and impetuous. When his feel- 
 ings were aroused, his countenance lighted up, 
 
ARDOR IN DEBATE. 109 
 
 his gestures became frequent and violent, 
 and in the effort to speak with rapidity, 
 while yet incompetent to command the words 
 he needed to express his abundant thoughts 
 and still greater emotions, he would seem 
 perfectly impassioned. 
 
 Although these discussions were earnest, 
 and as is usual in controversial debates may 
 have approached at times to acerbity, yet 
 they disturbed not the friendly sentiments 
 existing between the parties. Antonio always 
 cherished a high personal esteem for the pro- 
 fessor, and in return was regarded by his 
 learned friend with the kindest feelings. He 
 loved his warm and ingenuous nature; ad- 
 mired his thirst for knowledge, and his hum- 
 ble and fervent piety. Their debates, instead 
 of in any degree alienating their feelings, were 
 in fact the means of uniting them in closer 
 bonds of friendship. 
 
 The lady who met Antonio at Richfield 
 refers to the love he expressed towards Pro- 
 fessor , " that wise man," as he called 
 
 him; how he studied and labored to lead 
 him into the true sheepfold, and how happy 
 he would be if he would leave the new Baby- 
 
110 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 Ion of Rome and become a true shepherd of 
 Jesus Christ. His heart seemed full of affec- 
 tion towards him, and deeply concerned for 
 his happiness. 
 
 That this land feeling was mutual, is evi- 
 dent from a friendly note received from the 
 professor by Antonio when at Amenia. 
 
 " My dear Antonio — I received your very 
 agreeable letter a few days ago, and was 
 sorry to have bad news of your health. 
 But let us hope that with fine weather you 
 will be restored to your usual health and 
 strength 
 
 " I have been much struck with your im- 
 provement in style, orthography, and hand- 
 writing. It is really wonderful. Your cheer- 
 fulness and patience under your long illness 
 is very edifying and beautiful to witness. I 
 am sure nothing but a truly earnest and 
 Christian faith could inspire such gentleness 
 and courage. That the constant meditation 
 upon the blessed sacrifice which our divine 
 Redeemer made of himself upon his cross 
 for us, may prove the fruitful source of peace 
 and comfort to all who seek it, shall be my 
 
THE BIBLE AND ROME. Ill 
 
 fervent prayer, as I know it ever will be 
 yours 
 
 " May heaven bestow its choicest favors 
 upon you, and granting you good wishes, 
 grant also their fulfilment. 
 
 " I shall always be happy to hear from you. 
 We are all well, and wish to be particularly 
 remembered. My mother is less strong than 
 usual, but is able to go about, and inquires 
 respecting your health and prospects. 
 Yours, with much regard, 
 
 The following is a copy of a manuscript of 
 Antonio, in which he draws a contrast be- 
 tween the teaching of the Sci'ijotures, and that 
 of the church of Rome. 
 
 " The true teacher is the holy Scriptures. 
 By them we should compare the teaching 
 which teachers present to us : if it agree with 
 them, it is from God; but if it contradict 
 them, it is from Satan. It is not lawful for 
 any reasonable person to accept all the 
 teaching which teachers present to him with- 
 out investigating the true from the false. 
 The devil is never quiet or resting from try- 
 ing to cheat souls, that they may perish. 
 
112 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 Paul says, ' Though we or an angel from 
 heaven preach any other gospel unto you 
 than that we have preached, let him be 
 anathema.' So St. John the evangelist said, 
 ' Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits 
 whether they be of God.' From these say- 
 ings, every one may understand that it is by 
 searching the Scriptures that we are to judge 
 of teaching whether it be true or a lie. Oh it 
 is a great event for every one to investigate 
 the Scriptures ; not specially for priests and 
 those in authority, because the great apostles 
 have not directed these words to the priests, 
 but to Christians in general. Christians 
 should flee to the mountain of the holy 
 Scriptures, that from her alone they may 
 know the true from the false, and learn all 
 that is necessary for salvation. This is the 
 doctrine of the old fathers. Chrysostom and 
 others have said that no particular church is 
 infallible, neither the church of Rome, or any 
 other particular church. 
 
 "Let us take the teaching of the holy Scrip- 
 tures, and compare with it the Eoman teach- 
 ers, and see if they be according to it, or con- 
 tradictory to it. 
 
THE BIBLE AND ROME. 113 
 
 "The holy Scriptures forbid from taking 
 pictures and symbols, and from worshipping 
 and adoring them. But the church of Rome 
 have filled her altars and her houses and the 
 streets of her cities with these, and com- 
 manded the offering of adoration to them. 
 
 " The holy Scriptures teach us that we are 
 to worship only God, and him only adore; 
 and the Roman church teaches us that we 
 ought to adore and worship the angels and 
 saints. 
 
 " The holy Scriptures teach that we are 
 purified through the merits of Christ and the 
 good work of faith ; and she teaches that the 
 doctrine of purifying standeth by doing good 
 and example, and especially by her forgive- 
 ness and the masses of the clergy. 
 
 "The holy Scripture teaches by founding 
 only one Head to the church, and he is Jesus 
 Christ; and she teaches by founding many 
 heads, springing one after one. 
 
 " The holy Scripture teaches us by found- 
 ing only one Mediator between God and man, 
 and he is Jesus Christ; and she teaches by 
 making the angels and saints mediators and 
 advocates. 
 
 Biahallany. Q 
 
114 ANTONIO B1SHALLANY. 
 
 " The holy Scripture teaches that those 
 v/ho sleep in God shall rise quick to eternal 
 life ; and she sends them to her fiery purga- 
 tory to suffer great punishment. 
 
 " The holy Scriptures permit the ministers 
 and clergy to marry, and say that they who 
 forbid from marrying follow the bad spirit 
 and teachings of the devil. 
 
 " The holy Scripture teaches that they who 
 distinguish in eating err ; and she forbids 
 some especial dish, and after proclaims that 
 which she had forbidden before — sometimes 
 forbids from eating meat, except cheese and 
 milk, and sometimes forbids from all except 
 fish and oil, and she will never stand fast in 
 one case. 
 
 " The holy Scripture commands to be kept 
 the commandments of God the same as they 
 are, and commands not to add to them or di- 
 minish any thing from them; and she adds 
 to and diminishes from them, changing and 
 altering according to her own inventions. 
 
 " The holy Scripture teaches there is not 
 to be found in the New Testament, priest nor 
 high -priest, except Jesus Christ; and she 
 teaches by founding millions of them, and 
 
THE BIBLE AXD ROME. 115 
 
 she thieveth the true priesthood from Christ 
 and appropriates it to her popes, and Peter- 
 yeas and clergy. 
 
 " The holy Scripture teaches that no one 
 can forgive sin except God alone; and she 
 lays down forgiveness under the authority of 
 her popes and her clergy, that they loose men 
 from their deeds and sins when they please. 
 
 "Jesus Christ said to Peter, Turn back your 
 sword to its place; but the pope has drawn 
 the sword and slain by it millions from the 
 people of Christ and his disciples. 
 
 " The Lord Jesus paid tribute to Csesar, 
 and commanded his disciples to pay it ; and 
 the pope takes the tribute from Caesar, and 
 presses their necks under his feet. 
 
 " The Lord Jesus has announced to the 
 poor salvation, and said, It is easier for a 
 camel to go through the eye of a needle, than 
 for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of 
 heaven ; but the pope has made the way plain 
 and easy for the rich by purchasing a pass- 
 port of forgiveness through the masses of the 
 clergy, and crowds and makes difficult the 
 way of salvation for the poor thousands who 
 have nothing to pay for it to the clergy. 
 
116 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 " The Lord Jesus lived in poverty and af- 
 fliction, and said lie had no place to lay his 
 head, and ordered his disciples strictly to 
 take neither gold nor silver ; but the pope 
 standeth in the town of the Caesars gathering 
 the gold in his treasuries, and exercising au- 
 thority in kings' palaces. 
 
 " The Lord Jesus said, ' Ye do err, not 
 knowing the Scriptures;' but the pope imag- 
 ines that knowing the Scripture is the great- 
 est error, and is endeavoring by all his deter- 
 mination to destroy it. 
 
 " Oh, from all these expressions it may be 
 seen how the teachings and doings of the 
 Boman church contradict the teachings and 
 doings of the Lord Jesus and his apostles. 
 Hearken then to the voice crying from heav- 
 en by the mouth of St. John the evangelist : 
 ' Come out of her, my people, that ye be not 
 partaker of her sins, and that ye receive not 
 of her plagues.' Rev. 18 : 4. 
 
 "Now therefore let us hold fast the holy 
 Scriptures, lest we doubt and perish. We 
 have no means of knowing the true church, of 
 Christ except by the holy Scriptures. Let us 
 hear Chrysostom's explanation about this 
 
THE BIBLE AND ROME. Ill 
 
 subject. He often says there will never be 
 good protection to the Christian who seeks 
 the true faith, except in the holy Scriptures 
 only. He said also, 'As the Lord hath known 
 in the last days there shall be fear and trou- 
 ble greatly, therefore he should commend to 
 all Christians who desire to be satisfied that 
 they belong to the true faith, that they trust 
 not in any thing but the holy Scriptures ; 
 that if they go to any other teaching except 
 the Scriptures, they shall doubt or offend 
 and perish, because they will not know which 
 is the true church.' 
 
 " Therefore, brethren, the Protestants are 
 many denominations, but the doctrine is one : 
 regarding the same gospel, obeying the voice 
 of the Lord God, saying, ' Come unto me, and 
 take the water of life freely.' And this is the 
 sign : first Bibles stereotyped by them all 
 freely, without fear or danger from priests or 
 rulers ; then their believing the same doc- 
 trine, and there is no one to say, ' I do n't 
 like this Bible because it is Baptist, or this 
 or that ; and the greatest sign of their believ- 
 ing the same doctrine is their opening the 
 door of mercy, that is, I mean to say the 
 
118 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 public schools, and springing the water of 
 life in them, and standing in the highway 
 and on the tops of the houses, according to 
 their Lord and Master's saying, 'Come and 
 take the water of life freely.' " 
 
 The subject of Roman-catholicism occu- 
 pied many of Antonio's thoughts. His heart 
 bled over the spiritual condition of those who 
 in his own land and in other countries are 
 kept in ignorance of divine truth by the pa- 
 pal power. To qualify himself to oppose that 
 system of error and delusion, he carefully 
 studied the Bible, and saw distinctly that the 
 doctrines and practice of the Romish church 
 were at variance with the teachings of the 
 word of God. The contrast is partly exhib- 
 ited in the foregoing article, and the reader 
 will not fail to observe the aptness of the 
 quotations and the force with which he ap- 
 plies the Scriptures as the infallible test of 
 faith and practice. He requires a " Thus 
 saith the Lord" for a sanction of either indi- 
 vidual opinion and conduct, or for that of a 
 professed church of Christ. "To the law and 
 to the testimony; if they speak not accord- 
 
SUCCESSORS OF-JEROBOAM. 119 
 
 ing to this word, it is because there is no 
 light in them." 
 
 One more of his productions on this sub- 
 ject will illustrate his facility in discovering 
 a moral likeness between the Romish church 
 and a prominent Scripture character. 
 
 " CATHOLICS THE SUCCESSORS OF JEROBOAM THE 
 
 SON OF NEBAT. 
 
 "And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now 
 shall the kingdom return to the house of Da- 
 vid : if this people go up to do sacrifice in 
 the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then 
 shall the heart of this people turn again unto 
 their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Ju- 
 dah, and they shall kill me, and go again to 
 Rehoboam king of Judah. Whereupon the 
 king took counsel, and made two calves of 
 gold, and said unto them, It is too much for 
 you to go up to Jerusalem : behold thy gods, 
 O Israel, which brought thee up out of the 
 land of Egypt." 1 Kings 12 : 26. 
 
 "Likewise the pope said in his heart, If 
 the people shall have the Scriptures in their 
 hand, they shall know the truth and destroy 
 me. Whereupon he took counsel with his 
 
120 ANTONIO 'BISHALLANY. 
 
 ungodly hosts to take the Scriptures from 
 the hands of the people, and make for them 
 images and figures, and put them in a nice 
 building like the theatre, with nice music to 
 amuse the people, and give it the name, 
 Christ's church, and say to the people, It is 
 too much for you to trouble yourselves in 
 reading the Scriptures ; give them up, and 
 we will teach you what the Scripture says, 
 for you cannot understand it — these images 
 and figures be your Saviour. 
 
 " And he built him convents on the highest 
 hills and mountains, in every place where his 
 power spread, and filled them with graven 
 images and superstition, and made the peo- 
 ple sin against God. 
 
 "As the Israelites forsook the Lord God 
 who brought them from under bondage out 
 of Egypt, and feared other gods, so the Ro- 
 man-catholics forsook Christ who bought 
 them with his blood, and feared other gods 
 and the work of man's hand, while God said, 
 Ye shall not do like them. 
 
 " As the king Hezekiah broke in pieces the 
 brazen serpent that Moses had made, so the 
 Almighty God has lifted up the Protestant 
 
THE BIBLE ALL-POWERFUL. 121 
 
 with spiritual power, like the king Hezekiah 
 and Josiah, to break down the images from 
 the convents which are on the high places. 
 
 " As the king Josiah rent his clothes when 
 he heard the words of the book, and rose 
 with mighty indignation against the leader 
 of his fathers, so it will be when Roman-cath- 
 olics shall hear the words of Scripture ; they 
 will rise mightily against the mighty pope." 
 
 Antonio was deeply sensible of the injury 
 inflicted upon the souls of men by those who 
 deprived them of the Bible. He knew the 
 benefit he derived from the perusal of its 
 sacred pages himself, and believed that if it 
 were universally read it would dispel the 
 gloom of error and superstition from the hu- 
 man mind. He was anxious therefore to de- 
 stroy the power that held millions of immor- 
 tal beings in ignorance of divine truth, that 
 the light of heaven might shine in upon their 
 souls and bring to them salvation. It was 
 not any hostility against those who belonged 
 to the papal church, or against the pope or 
 the priests, that influenced him. He loved 
 and pitied those who were deluded them- 
 
122 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 selves and who deluded others, but he was 
 hostile to the system which they sustained, 
 and which for long ages had kept mankind 
 in spiritual thraldom. The kindness and be- 
 nevolence of his Christian heart prompted 
 him to say and do whatever he could to 
 weaken and, if possible, to subvert a system 
 which maintained itself by keeping the peo- 
 ple in ignorance, which imposed upon them 
 unscriptural doctrines and ordinances, taught 
 them human traditions instead of the divine 
 word, and led them to believe as the church 
 believed, without the privilege of exercising 
 their own reason, judgment, or conscience. 
 
 To change the views of his Catholic friends 
 at home, and of papists throughout the world, 
 he was of the opinion that it was only necessa- 
 ry to supply them with the holy Scripture, and 
 give them full liberty to read it. And he was 
 correct in his opinion. It is the truth, under 
 the blessing of the Spirit, that illuminates the 
 understanding, purifies the heart, and eman- 
 cipates the soul from the bondage of vain 
 forms and ceremonial observances. 
 
 It is a great mistake to suppose that men 
 are to be detached from particular views and 
 
HOW TO CONVINCE. 123 
 
 religious customs by the language of denun- 
 ciation. Enter into controversy with Roman- 
 ists, and you put them on the defence of their 
 principles, awaken their prejudices, and close 
 their minds against conviction. The humble 
 colporteur who places a Testament or some 
 evangelical volume in the hands of Catholics, 
 and speaks a kindly word to them on the love 
 of Christ, adopts a more effectual method of 
 correcting their errors and bringing them to 
 the faith of the gospel, than the learned po- 
 lemic who with strong weapons makes a direct 
 assault upon their peculiar sentiments. The 
 simple truth, spoken in love, is the instrument 
 by which the strong-holds of error are to be 
 broken down. Only place a copy of the Scrip- 
 tures in the hands of a Romanist, and let him 
 read it without being trammelled by the fear 
 of priestly power, and with the conviction that 
 he is there to learn what God requires both 
 as to faith and practice, and to judge for 
 himself of the will of God as revealed in his 
 word; and so different are the teachings of 
 that word from the things he has been taught 
 to believe and do, that under the teaching of 
 the Holy Spirit he will not be long in renounc- 
 
124 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 ing his existing notions received from men, 
 for the pure doctrines of truth as received 
 from God. The Bible is not so profound, 
 mysterious, or obscure as to be above the 
 comprehension of ordinary minds. Nor is 
 danger to be apprehended from the people 
 reading it without the explanation of the 
 clergy. The great cardinal doctrines of re- 
 ligion as there revealed are very simple, and 
 all that is necessary to salvation is within 
 the reach of the humblest intellect. The 
 poor cottager, the illiterate peasant, the untu- 
 tored Arab, and the little child may know the 
 truth as it is in Jesus, and become wise unto 
 eternal life. 
 
 Antonio himself is an example. This 
 humble and uncultivated Syrian opened this 
 blessed book, and without any commentary, 
 without any teacher to aid him in understand- 
 ing the mind of the Spirit, discovered the evi- 
 dences of the Scriptures being the word of 
 God, and so learned the great truths of Chris- 
 tianity as to become not only a theoretical, 
 but an experimental believer. The Spirit of 
 God no doubt shone upon his mind and led 
 him into all truth. And wherever the word 
 
POWER OF GOD'S WORD. 125 
 
 is read with a desire to understand and be 
 benefited by it, we have reason to hope the 
 Holy Spirit will impart his enlightening influ- 
 ence, and that saving effects will result. It 
 is God's own promise, " As the rain cometh 
 down, and the snow from heaven, and return- 
 eth not thither, but watereth the earth, and 
 maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may 
 give seed to the sower, and bread to the eat- 
 er ; so shall my word be that goeth forth out 
 of my mouth: it shall not return unto me 
 void, but it shall accomplish that which I 
 please, and it shall prosper in the thing where- 
 to I sent it." 
 
 A similar and remarkable illustration of 
 this converting power of the word of God 
 was the case of Luther. When shut up in 
 the convent of Erfurth, he found a copy of 
 the Bible fastened by a chain to a pillar. He 
 read it, and learned that " the just shall live 
 by faith ;" and the reception of this truth 
 opened his mind to the errors of a system 
 which taught that human merit could pur- 
 chase salvation. 
 
 The intelligent and pious Madam Guyon, 
 by reading a Bible she met with in one of the 
 
126 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 nunneries of France, was led to behold the 
 grace of God as justifying the sinner through 
 faith; and believing in Jesus, she renounced 
 the austerities and forms of the Bornish 
 church, and obtained a peace and joy in the 
 love of her Saviour, which all the gloom and 
 terrors of the Bastile could not destroy. 
 
 " Here springs of consolation rise, 
 To cheer the fainting mind ; 
 And thirsty souls receive supplies, 
 And sweet refreshment find. 
 
 Oh may these heavenly pages be 
 
 My ever dear delight ; 
 And still new beauties may I see, 
 
 And still increasing light." 
 
 The following letter from Richfield to Mrs. 
 H 1, indicates his simple piety and grati- 
 tude : 
 
 " Honored Madam — You may think that I 
 have used the old proverb, ' Out of sight, out 
 of mind ;' but I am not so. Give me leave to 
 approach you with the most thankful acknow- 
 ledgments of a grateful heart, for the favor 
 and benefit your goodness has conferred upon 
 me. It shall be the business of my whole 
 
A GRATEFUL LETTER. 12 
 
 N 
 
 life to the utmost of my power to deserve it, 
 and my whole heart which yon have made 
 happy by your bounty. In my prayers daily 
 to God the Father, I beg him to bless you 
 with the continuance of your valuable health, 
 a long life, and all worldly honor, as you 
 honored me among the people, and espec- 
 ially for the remembrance you have conveyed 
 to me through the letter of my dear brother 
 
 in Christ, Mr. H r. 
 
 " My heart has never been silent in its 
 acknowledgments for so much of your kind- 
 ness ; and how can I express my gratitude ? 
 The Mohammedan believers' prophet is called 
 Eedwan, and they believe him to be the door- 
 keeper of paradise; for there were two Mo- 
 hammedans travelling about, and when they 
 lodged themselves in a house, lo, the owners 
 of the house treated them with the utmost 
 degree of kindness. Then they addressed 
 each other, saying, ' These persons are not of 
 this land, but it is probable that Eedwan has 
 forgotten to shut the door of paradise, and 
 they have come out without his knowledge ; 
 if they were of this land we should not 
 have been treated so well.' And I believe 
 
128 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 • 
 
 tliat the earthly paradise is your land, and 
 Bedwan has left the door open for me to en- 
 ter. Had not your land been the earthly 
 paradise, I should not have found her dwell- 
 ers to be the kindest people upon the globe, 
 and also the most honorable and sympathetic 
 in heart. Had not your country been the 
 foundation of Christ's kingdom, I should not 
 have been overwhelmed with your utmost 
 kindness. Permit me, madam, to ask you a 
 question : Do I say too much on this subject? 
 But if I express to you the sympathy of Mrs. 
 
 H towards me, what will you say then ? 
 
 Madam, I may be wrong if I say the pen will 
 not express the loudness of that family. The 
 Arabians, when they want to express strong 
 feeling, say, ' If the earth was ink and the 
 heaven paper, they would not contain one 
 quarter of that which I have to express.' 
 " Being unwell, I acquainted her with my 
 
 case. She presently told Mr. H , and he 
 
 left his business and came to me. This is 
 the friend I must greatly respect. You are 
 also, dearest madam, sowing the seed in the ' 
 
 Lord's vineyard, and the pious Mr. H 1 is 
 
 bringing up workmen to the harvest. It is 
 
A CHRISTIAN FRIEND. 129 
 
 to you and to him, of all under heaven, I 
 mostly wish to be remembered." 
 
 Antonio had the warm heart of a true 
 Christian, and no favor he received was un- 
 dervalued, or failed to awaken emotions of 
 gratitude. • From the time he arrived in New 
 York, he was the object of sympathy and 
 benevolence. Many friends performed acts 
 of kindness, and especially Mr. H r. 
 
 This gentleman had become interested in 
 Antonio when travelling in Syria, and his 
 attachment to him was strengthened by his 
 visit to America. He loved him as a Chris- 
 tian brother, and extended to him every act 
 of courtesy and hospitality. In his father's 
 family Antonio found a home, and enjoyed 
 all the pleasures of intelligent and Christian 
 
 intercourse. Mr. H ministered to him 
 
 in his sickness, secured for him the facilities 
 of education, took him as a companion to the 
 Springs for the benefit of his health, com- 
 mended him to the notice of friends, and in 
 every way contributed to his improvement 
 and happiness ; and his favors were received 
 with a gratitude and affection that words 
 could not express. Antonio felt that " Red- 
 
 Bishallany. 9 
 
130 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 wan " had left open the door of the earthly- 
 paradise, and that he had been permitted to 
 come in and experience the benefits confer- 
 red by generons and sympathizing hearts. 
 His humility no doubt added to his sense of 
 obligation; for he was conscious of his own 
 humble origin and limited circumstances; 
 and finding himself, a poor Arabian as he 
 called himself, to be the object of so much 
 interest, care, and kind attention, he was 
 tenderly affected, and overwhelmed with 
 thankfulness too great for language to utter. 
 It was thought, by one who observed him 
 with anxious interest, that much talking and 
 excitement, and the undue application brought 
 about by the desire and conviction that he 
 ought to be able clearly to show that his 
 religious opinions were formed upon and 
 strictly in accordance with Scripture, were 
 unfavorable to his health. He was all anxi- 
 ety to advance in his studies, devoted a great 
 deal of time to his books, and laboriouslv 
 exerted himself to acquire that knowledge 
 which would fit him for usefulness. His nat- 
 ural buoyancy of spirit and determination of 
 purpose battled against untoward circum- 
 
THE WINTER. 131 
 
 stances ; he was not discouraged by ordinary- 
 dangers, but went forward with his studies 
 and his discussions of religious truth with 
 unabating interest. "So impressed was he," 
 
 says Mr. H , " with the idea that with 
 
 his peculiar experience he could be an in- 
 strument of great good as a missionary, that 
 he could hardly think it possible that Provi- 
 dence would remove him until his mission 
 had been fulfilled." 
 
 The winter passed along, the time being 
 filled up with giving Arabic lessons, theolog- 
 ical discussions, study, and visiting friends. 
 He kept up his cheerfulness and interest in 
 the promotion of his Master's kingdom. Dur- 
 ing this time he took private lessons in Eng- 
 lish. He was interested also in a school en- 
 terprise for educating neglected Italian chil- 
 dren. 
 
 We here insert a copy of a pleasant letter, 
 received by Antonio from the Kev. Mr. Hunt, 
 the Principal of the Amenia Seminary. 
 
 "Amenia, Feb. 12, 1856. 
 
 " My Friend Antonio — I have been design- 
 ing to write to you for weeks past, but the 
 
132 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 various duties of my office have prevented 
 me. You must not think, however, that we 
 have forgotten you. Far from that. We 
 often think and speak of Bishallany, and if 
 you should return to the school next term, 
 you may be certain that all of your friends 
 will be glad to see you. We have many 
 students this winter. All the rooms are full, 
 but out of the whole company I have not 
 found one who could declaim in Arabic. I 
 hope you may return next term, for I think 
 you would find Amenia very pleasant in the 
 summer. I shall leave the school at the end 
 of this term, but Mr. Foss will take my place, 
 and he will take very good care of you. How 
 do you stand this very cold winter ? Do you 
 have such snows on mount Lebanon? I 
 hope your health has not suffered from the 
 severe frosts. Perhaps you are much better 
 than if the winter had been more open. I 
 will trust so at least. 
 
 "By and by, Antonio, we shall reach a 
 country better by far than either Lebanon or 
 Amenia. No bitter cold or burning heats 
 there. I hope you are happy every day in 
 prospect of that heavenly country, and hap- 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 133 
 
 py too in the love of that dear Saviour, for 
 whose sake you have left mother and native 
 land. We do not forget to pray for you 
 when we meet in our prayer-rooms, and hope 
 that you do not forget us. 
 
 " I am anxious to hear from you, and wish 
 you would write me a letter, and tell all 
 about your health and studies and pros- 
 pects. 
 
 " Remember I am used to your English, 
 
 and can understand it pretty well. I shall 
 
 hope to hear from you before many days. 
 
 "I am your friend, 
 
 " ANDREW J. HUNT." 
 
 REPLY. 
 
 " New York, Feb. 14, 1862. 
 
 " Rev. Mr. Hunt : 
 
 " Dear Sir — I received your kind letter, 
 and I am very glad to hear that you are all 
 well; but to me it is otherwise most griev- 
 ous that you are going to leave the place, 
 since I have been permitted to enjoy the 
 honor and the favor of your great kindness. 
 Next term I hoped to pass the summer with 
 you, and all the teachers, and not lose the 
 
134 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 company of any one of you. But the hon- 
 ored Mr. Foss, by your recommendation, he 
 will take care of me ; and in another way I 
 am very certain that he is the shepherd of 
 his Master, like unto you, and I shall be one 
 sheep of his Master's flock, under his care; 
 and his Master requires him to feed his flock 
 in the good pasture, and upon the high moun- 
 tains of Israel, in preparation for the hill of 
 blessing, where we shall meet together once 
 for ever with our common Creator; where 
 showers shall fall in their season; where is 
 no fear, no sickness, no shame, but felicity; 
 and where we can lie down in the safe fold. 
 Therefore I know he is not one of the 
 antichrist shepherds, that he may thrust with 
 side and with shoulder, and push me with 
 horn. No ; God forbid, for I was once under 
 them. But I deeply regret that I shall lose 
 your presence. 
 
 "As to your remembering me kindly be- 
 fore the brethren it is natural, for it is said 
 by Him, 'The good tree 'cannot bring forth 
 bad fruit, neither the bad tree bring forth 
 good fruit.' And, sir, I believe it is not in you 
 to forget me ; for if I have forgot you, let my 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 135 
 
 right hand forget me; and if I did not re- 
 member and do not remember you above my 
 chiefest conversation before my friends, and 
 wherever I go, let my tongue cleave to the 
 roof of my mouth. 
 
 "And to let you know the state of my 
 health at the present time. Now since I 
 came from Amenia I had no more night- 
 sweats nor headaches, but I had a very vio- 
 lent cough for three weeks, which had put 
 three quarters of my life in the grave; but 
 the benevolent Dr. Lindsly having examined 
 me well, he soon gave the cod-liver oil mixed 
 with various substances, and that was the 
 means of restoring the rest of the three quar- 
 ters of me from the grave. Since that time I 
 am getting on better. 
 
 " Sir, if you know that I shall not see you 
 in Amenia when I shall go there, I trust ear- 
 nestly you will not let the last time I met you 
 in the street of New York be the last time I 
 shall see you, but I trust you will let me see 
 you once more in this world, for I have that 
 warm desire. When I remember the tender- 
 ness of your action and kindness I find no 
 words to express your bounty, for I was a 
 
136 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 stranger, sick, and you visited me, and the re- 
 ward of this is great. This He will say, Come 
 ye to my right hand. 
 
 "As to informing you concerning my prog- 
 ress, it is swifter than the creeping reptiles, 
 sir; and your hope that I may enjoy in the 
 dear Saviour — alas to me if I do not, for I 
 have no comforter, no companion in my 
 room except Him. I hope, sir, you will never 
 forgot me in your prayers to Him, that he 
 would bind my feet upon that immovable 
 rock Christ. 
 
 " I trust earnestly that you will jxresent my 
 deepest regard to Mr. Foss, and my warmest 
 respect to Mr. Taylor, and to every friend 
 who shall ask concerning me abundant com- 
 pliment. And if you should come to New 
 York, you may find my dwelling-place Sixth- 
 avenue, No. 260 ; and if you write to me, di- 
 rect it under Mr. H 's care. 
 
 " Sir, I am your most affectionate friend, 
 
 "AO. BISHALLANY." 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 137 
 
 CHAPTEE V. 
 
 In April, 1856, Antonio returned to Amenia, 
 and remained nntil June. The testimony of 
 his teachers and fellow-pupils was that his 
 application and progress in his state of health 
 were truly remarkable. As everywhere and 
 always he was universally esteemed, and 
 made many warm friends. 
 
 Soon after resuming his studies he ad- 
 dressed the following letter to Mr. H . 
 
 "From Amenia to New York. April 19, 185G. 
 
 " To Me. J. C. H : 
 
 " Dear Sir — I have neglected my duty in 
 not writing to you sooner ; but, however, you 
 know the reasons of that. The first is the 
 spelling, the second is the pain of bowing; 
 therefore I am endeavoring to write you a 
 few words to set your mind in rest con- 
 cerning me. Know that I am reached to 
 Amenia quite safe, and Mr. Foss has treated 
 me with respect, and has given me a room 
 down stairs with wood-stove, and in fact am 
 here well situated ; and to inform you about 
 
138 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 my health is not yet to say any thing, for 
 since I came here we have scarcely seen the 
 sun out. I am undertaking the study of 
 three grammars — English, Greek, and Latin. 
 I find them to be very hard ; my running in 
 them no swifter than the creeping reptile. 
 
 " Dear sir, however, I charge to present 
 my deepest regard to the benevolent mother, 
 and my perfect compliments to the bountiful 
 father, and my respect to Miss Sarah and 
 Laura, and to all the brethren. I shall write 
 to the mother after a while and acquaint her 
 with all that shall happen, for happy is the 
 man who has a mother like me in the strange 
 land. Dear sir, I beg you to present my rev- 
 erence to Dr. C , if you shall see him be- 
 fore I shall write to him ; and I beg you also 
 to present my warmest respect to Mr., Mrs., 
 
 and Miss H 1, and their children. It was 
 
 my duty to have written for every one a let- 
 ter; but I am not able now, I hope to do it 
 soon. 
 
 "I am your loving brother, and most du- 
 tiful friend, 
 
 "AO. BISHALLANY." 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 139 
 
 REPLY. 
 
 " New York, April 27, 1856. 
 
 " My dear Antonio — Your letter reached 
 me safely. I hope the labor it cost you to 
 write was nothing like so great as my joy at 
 receiving it. But I know it was difficult for 
 you to write it, and therefore it is all the 
 more valuable to me. You know that there 
 are four things which make any thing costly 
 and desirable : namely, its usefulness, rarity, 
 beauty, and workmanship. 
 
 " Your letter was useful, as it relieved my 
 anxiety concerning you, and informed me 
 about your studies and situation ; and further, 
 because it taught me how perseverance and 
 application will enable me to accomplish, any 
 thing that is right and proper, as it has ena- 
 bled you to write a letter in English after a 
 few months' residence in our land. 
 
 " And it was rare. I believe I have only 
 one other letter from you; and be assured 
 that, should my life be spared, I shall often 
 turn to them, and read them with pleasure 
 and profit. 
 
 " And to my eyes it was beautiful ; not that 
 
140 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 the grammar or spelling or writing was per- 
 fect. I view it only as a link in a long chain 
 of events ; and when I look at this link, I see 
 the valuable events of jour life, or operations 
 of God's providence from the time that it in- 
 fluenced you to purchase a Bible in order to 
 gratify your taste for reading, until under the 
 influence of the same providence you are now 
 prompted and enabled to address me this 
 letter, which, bringing anew to my mind the 
 power and wisdom and love of our Father, 
 makes me penitent over sins that are past, 
 and directs me to the source whence by faith 
 we can derive whatever we need, and just as 
 and when we need it. 
 
 " It is more than beautiful. The righteous 
 is never forsaken, and his seed is never per- 
 mitted to beg bread. When our friends for- 
 sake us, the Lord taketh us up. His ways 
 are past finding out, and yet there is the as- 
 surance that all things work together for 
 good to those who do his will. I do not like 
 to indulge in disconnected pious ejaculations, 
 for my experience is that they are very often 
 connected with deceitful hearts, and I always 
 am afraid of myself when I am inclined to 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 141 
 
 use them; but jour experience so distinctly 
 reflects God's presence and mercy, that every 
 time I think of you I am led to look to Him, 
 and in this instance to write of Him. 
 
 " One point of comparison remains. I have 
 said the value of an article depends on its 
 workmanship; and when I remember that 
 there is but one Antonio to write to me, and 
 that it costs much time and labor for every 
 sentence of his letters, and that he has re- 
 ceived largely of God's Spirit, I feel that there 
 is a skilful and valuable workman whose 
 work I can look at often — that it is such that 
 'maketh not ashamed.' 
 
 "I am pained to hear that your breast 
 hurts you when you bow down to write. It 
 is better then not to write, or only a few lines 
 at once. We all are anxious to hear from 
 you, but I am sure would rather wait a month 
 than receive letters which we know it is pain- 
 ful for you to write. 
 
 " I indulge a very strong hope that when 
 warm weather comes you will grow stronger 
 and better, and that as we say of plants, 
 'April showers bring May flowers,' so in your 
 case the pleasant sunshine of next month will 
 
142 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 bring out the buds and flowers of returning 
 health. 
 
 " Are you not attempting to study too 
 much at once? You will remember that I 
 was very much afraid you would, and tried 
 to convince you it was not best for you to do 
 so. I am quite certain you ought to be able 
 to read Latin tolerably well before you at- 
 tempt Greek, otherwise your mind will get 
 confused, and you will not get along I think 
 as fast, and you will worry and study your- 
 self into the grave. I of course may be mis- 
 taken, but I trust you will seriously consider 
 what I say. Get fairly started in English 
 first, for that is the most important of all; 
 then begin Latin; and when you begin to 
 read Latin, commence Greek grammar. Am 
 I not right ? . . . . 
 
 " I shall be very happy indeed to hear from 
 you, but be careful of your health. 
 " Truly your friend, 
 
 < : J. 0. H." 
 
 Antonio was greatly favored by having the 
 
 friendship and kind feeling of Mr. H . 
 
 He was a friend indeed, who did not simply 
 say, Be ye warmed, and be ye clothed, but 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 143 
 
 who actually relieved the wants and minis- 
 tered to the comfort of his humble and afflict- 
 ed Christian brother. The heart that loves 
 Christ will love his disciples. The exhibition 
 of true sympathy and affection towards the 
 friends of Jesus, is a bright evidence of hav- 
 ing passed from death unto life. The sacred 
 Scriptures strongly inculcate the cultivation 
 of this beautiful virtue, saying, " Be ye kindly 
 affectioned one to another ; in honor prefer- 
 ring one another." It is the new command- 
 ment of Christ that we should love one an- 
 other ; and the possession of this grace of the 
 divine Spirit is an essential trait in Christian 
 character. " If a man do not love his broth- 
 er whom he hath seen, how can he love God 
 whom he hath not seen ?" And it is not sim- 
 ply the emotion of love in the heart that God 
 requires, or that will satisfy the true Chris- 
 tian. We are to do good, and communicate; 
 to feed the hungry, and clothe the naked; 
 aiding those who cannot recompense us, and 
 finding our reward in the conscious pleasure 
 of well doing, and the hope of the divine ap- 
 probation. Such was the spirit that dwelt in 
 a household where Antonio was a welcome 
 
144 AXTOXIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 and frequent guest, and where eacli member 
 seemed to have gained his grateful affection. 
 
 Mrs. H , whom he calls by the endearing 
 
 title of mother, had manifested towards him a 
 mother's care, and secured in return a filial 
 regard. 
 
 His tender attachment is evinced in a let- 
 ter from Amenia, dated May 3, 1856. 
 
 " Dearest Mother of the Stranger, Mrs. 
 
 H My duty teaches me acquaint you 
 
 with that happened since I have left New 
 York. To the misfortunes of unfavorable 
 seasons it has pleased God to add on me 
 great weakness, that I hardly can walk a 
 mile. When I consider my affliction in this 
 land, I find no comfort except in repeating 
 the history of your kindness; and when I 
 charge my tongue to cease from declaration, 
 he do answer me, May the mountains cease 
 and depart, and hills be removed, but the 
 kindness of this benevolent family shall never 
 depart from my mouth. Next to seeing you 
 is the pleasure of seeing your handwriting; 
 and to hearing you is the pleasure of hearing 
 from you. And if you write to me I will 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 145 
 
 thank yon therefore as long as I live; and 
 when I die my bones will thank yon in their 
 grave, for my pain has become intense, and 
 my remedy is scarce procurable. 
 
 " I am your most obedient and most affec- 
 tionate friend, 
 
 •' AO. BISHALLANY." 
 
 ANSWER. 
 
 " Monday Morning. 
 " Dear Antonio — I received your very kind 
 and welcome letter some time ago. It gave 
 me great pleasure to hear from you, but I re- 
 gret very much to find you so weak, and not 
 improving in health. I was in hopes the 
 pure, bracing country ah*, with a little exer- 
 cise and change of diet, would be of service 
 to you ; but do not be discouraged ; pleasant, 
 warm weather is coming, and the medicine 
 
 which J ordered prepared for you may 
 
 be the means of restoring you to health. If 
 there is any thing I can do for you, Antonio, 
 which will promote your comfort and happi- 
 ness, let me know; any delicacy you would 
 like which you cannot procure where you are, 
 let me know, and I will send it to you. The 
 children often speak of you. Antonio, I am 
 
 Bisliallany. \Q 
 
146 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 afraid writing fatigues you. Do not apply 
 yourself too closely to books or study; but 
 when the weather is warm and pleasant, ex- 
 ercise in the open air; avoid fatigue, and 
 make yourself as comfortable as possible. 
 The family all unite in much love to you ; and 
 accept the continued regard and affection of 
 your sincere friend, 
 
 " S. A. H." 
 ' May 19, 1855." 
 
 TO MRS. H T. 
 
 " Amenia, May 27, 185 G. 
 
 "Honored Madam — Because you are en- 
 deavoring to bring every nation to the path 
 of Christ, believe me, madam, that Christ is 
 taking you to his own self as a soldier, for he 
 is King of kings^ and King of the nations. 
 The whole of them have rebelled against 
 him ; therefore wisdom is to take the arms of 
 Christ, by which you are subduing his enemies 
 under his footstool. I should like very much 
 to live until I shall be able to do something 
 for Christ; and after I shall have done it, let 
 his will be done; for it is duty to every 
 Christian that he should do or write some- 
 thing for Christ before he die : therefore if I 
 
APPROACH OF SPRING. 141 
 
 should die before I have done any thing for 
 Christ, I charge you that you may write upon 
 ray gravestone these words : ' This poor young 
 man has died with grief because he had no 
 opportunity to write something concerning 
 Christ and Christianity.' I am enjoying daily 
 the presence of my dear Saviour, and I am 
 really happy. Our place begins to look some- 
 thing like summer : the trees begin to give us 
 their delightful shade; the grass is shooting 
 forth as if glad to see the summer again, after 
 its long confinement beneath winter's snowy 
 mantle. I hope you will excuse the badness 
 of my explanation and uncorrected grammar. 
 " I am truly your most affectionate friend, 
 
 " AO. BISHALLANY." 
 
 The lady to whom the above letter was ad- 
 dressed has recently favored us with a brief 
 communication, from which we select a few 
 interesting incidents. "Antonio was a con- 
 stant visitor at my house during the whiter, 
 bringing with him almost invariably his Ara- 
 bic Bible, and while I read the English, 
 translating from his own to observe the cor- 
 respondence. His whole heart was absorbed 
 in the one wish of doing something for the 
 
148 ANTOXIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 Saviour. His conversation was always of a 
 
 serious character; and he often expressed 
 himself astonished that there should be in 
 this enlightened country, so favored with re- 
 ligious privileges, any who did not serve God. 
 He said he did not expect to find so many 
 wicked people in America, and was grieved 
 that so few should embrace the religion of 
 Jesus; and felt sure that as soon as he be- 
 came more familiar with the language, he 
 should be able, God helping him, to bring 
 many to the Saviour. 
 
 " After he was confined to his room I visit- 
 ed him frequently. He always expressed 
 thankfulness that God had put it into his 
 heart to come to this country, where he had 
 learned so much of Christ, and found so 
 many Christian friends. On one occasion I 
 found him very feeble, having, as he told me, 
 coughed all night. I said, 'You should not 
 have been left alone, Antonio.' His counte- 
 nance brightened, and he said, ' Oh no, I 
 have not been alone, the Saviour has been 
 with me all night, and I asked him to take 
 me with him ; but no, he is not ready for me : 
 perhaps he will let me do something for him 
 
ABDALLAH EL WATWAT. 149 
 
 yet before lie takes me. I must, oh I must 
 do something for Christ. I want to lead 
 souls to the blessed Saviour. He is so pre- 
 cious to me, I have enjoyed his presence 
 so much, I want every body to come to 
 
 Christ.' " 
 
 - 
 
 FROM ABDALLAH EL WATWAT, BEIRUT, MAY 9, 1856, TO 
 ANTONIO BISHALLANY, AT NEW YORK. 
 
 (Translated from the Arabic.) 
 
 " My dear Antonio — May your life be pro- 
 longed ; and please receive the expression of 
 my most longing desires to see the light of 
 your countenance again in prosperity and 
 health. Mr. Hurter has sent you a box of 
 books, and in it are all the kinds you wrote 
 for. I hope they will arrive safely. He will 
 tell you whom to pay the amount to in Amer- 
 ica. As for the raisins, dry apricots, and 
 pistachio nuts you ordered, pray do not think 
 that I have made no effort to send them to 
 your brother; but what delayed me was the 
 non-arrival of the vessel coming from Ameri- 
 ca to Beirut. I intended to send you the 
 things by the gentleman that takes the books, 
 but the will of the Lord permitted me not. 
 
150 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 I was taken clown with illness of great sever- 
 ity almost unto death. This was the reason 
 of the delay in sending yon the books ; now, 
 thank God, and through the mercy of the 
 Lord Jesus Christ the Messiah, I have re- 
 gained my health, and as the vessel is ready 
 to receive it, I will have the box put on board 
 immediately. I am vexed more than you are 
 at the delay, for I fear that you have needed 
 the things; but as I have already told you, 
 the will of God put a stop to it. We have 
 had various diseases, as well as the cholera, 
 so that we had to leave for Sohma, and were 
 three months without work. When I went 
 down to Beirut, Mary took the fever, and 
 then the children; after that I had it, but 
 still I thank God for all his mercies and fa- 
 vors. This is all that is necessary to say. 
 Mary and the rest send their compliments to 
 you. Your mother and your brother Abra- 
 ham are continually sending letters to me 
 inquiring after you. Good-by. 
 " Yours truly, 
 
 "ABD ALLAH EL WATWAT." 
 " Beirut, 27th of Nisan, (May 9,) 1856." 
 
A CONSOLING LETTER. 151 
 
 FROM MR. J. C. H. TO ANTOXIO. 
 
 " New York, May 25, 1856. 
 
 " Dear Friend Antonio — I have not found 
 an opportunity before to-day to answer your 
 letter written eight days ago. 
 
 " The sky is again clouding over, and the 
 chilly ah- and moaning wind carry my 
 thoughts to Amenia, where perhaps you are 
 suffering in consequence of the changing 
 weather. But it is not in my heart to com- 
 plain. I know that you stand on the Rock 
 that is higher than you, and that you can 
 recognize the hand of your loving Father in 
 affliction and trial, no less than in prosperity 
 and joy. 'Whom he loveth he chasteneth;' 
 though I cannot believe that your sufferings 
 are intended as a chastisement, but rather 
 that others may see of the strength which his 
 Spirit gives, and be led to serve their Father 
 in heaven. I am sustained by the knowledge 
 that what is happening to you is for your 
 own and my own good and the good of the 
 world ; and so long as we continue to do all 
 we can to arrest disease, scatter the pain, 
 and restore to health, with all my friendship 
 and love I cannot wish you to be relieved 
 
152 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 from one moment of suffering which, notwith- 
 standing prayer and effort, God in his wis- 
 dom subjects you to. I know that such words 
 will not bring sadness to your heart, but will 
 give you new strength and joy when you 
 think of being accounted worthy to be placed 
 in circumstances where the light of your 
 Christian endurance and example shines so 
 brightly on the world. 
 
 " Very truly your friend, 
 
 «j. c. H » 
 
 " Amenia Seminary, May 25, 185G. 
 
 « Mk. H : 
 
 "My deae Feiend — I have received your 
 kind letter, and your bounty inquires about 
 the medicine. I had it last Monday in the 
 evening, and I have used it according to his 
 direction. In three days my soul was going 
 to quit my body, if I had not the medicine of 
 the doctor. The doctor's medicine it helped 
 me better ; if I had used it until this time I 
 should have been improved considerably. 
 Still, I am better now. Yesterday I had a 
 ride on horseback, and I wished very much 
 that you had been with mo, for the excellent 
 
HIS REPLY. 153 
 
 sight of this country now cannot be imag- 
 ined : for the trees begin to give us their 
 delightful shade ; the grass is shooting forth, 
 as if glad to see summer again after its long 
 confinement beneath winter's snowy mantle ; 
 indeed every thing begins to look gay. 
 
 "Dear sir, I received a letter from the 
 dearest mother, encouraging me in my afflic- 
 tions in such expressive manner, such as I 
 never heard from my mother the like tender- 
 ness of heart ; also telling me that Charley 
 and Willy are getting better. I hope the 
 next time to hear that they are cured entire- 
 ly. I beg you also to give my respect to Mr. 
 Henry, when you shall write to him. I re- 
 ceived a letter from Eev. Dr. Cheever the 
 same time I received yours. I also received 
 a letter from Mr. Hurter at Beirut, 'and 
 sending me a box of books to Boston ac- 
 cording to your direction; they are coming 
 by a ship is called Kace-horse, sailed from 
 
 Smyrna. I wrote a letter also to Dr. A , 
 
 begging him to inquire from Mr. Merwin, 
 BMe-house, for he knew about her, if she 
 arrived or not. She sailed from Smyrna, 
 April, 1856. I beg you give my respect to 
 
154 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 the parent, and to Miss Sarah and Miss Laura, 
 and all the brethren. 
 
 "I am your most obedient and most affec- 
 tion friend, 
 
 " AO. BISHALLANY. 
 
 "Also Mr. Foss sends you his respects. 
 Think not that I am writing much, for this 
 is instead of my composition, and this would 
 not hurt me." 
 
 These several letters, fraught with expres- 
 sions of sympathy and Christian counsel and 
 comfort, must have been very consoling and 
 pleasant to Antonio. His declining health 
 would naturally affect his spirits. It imped- 
 ed him in his studies, rendered his acquisi- 
 tion of knowledge laborious and painful, and 
 cast a shadow over the prospect he had loved 
 to contemplate of his future services in the 
 missionary field. His kind Mends knew his 
 trials and sorrows; and though absent from 
 him, they bore him upon their hearts, re- 
 membered him in their prayers, and address- 
 ed to him affectionate epistles adapted to 
 cheer and encourage him under the pressure 
 of affliction. How welcome those letters 
 
HIS PASTOR'S LETTER. 155 
 
 were, and what a cordial they were to his 
 heart, is evident in the grateful responses he 
 so warmly uttered. They were like the com- 
 ing of Joseph unto Jacob, bringing joy and 
 gladness to his soul, and called forth grati- 
 tude not only to the dear friends who wrote 
 them, but to his heavenly Father who thus 
 disposed them to minister to his comfort. 
 
 Among the letters he received while at 
 Amenia, was one from his beloved pastor, 
 who took a lively interest in him, and from 
 the period he became a member of his flock 
 exercised over him the care of a faithful and 
 tender shepherd. He regarded him as one 
 of Christ's precious flock, and admired the 
 humility and meekness, the love and zeal 
 by which he was distinguished, and both he 
 and his people gave proof of their Christian 
 affection towards this humble and interest- 
 ing disciple by many acts of beneficence. 
 
 " New York, May 17, 1856. 
 
 "My dear Brother Bishallany — I am 
 very glad to receive a letter from you. 
 What you say of your health makes me 
 fear that you are in danger of applying 
 
156 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 - 
 
 yourself too closely to study. Now that the 
 weather is becoming settled and fine, you 
 ought to be as much as possible in the open 
 air. If you have the pain in your chest, you 
 must not sit at your studies or be confined 
 closely. But I hope, by the blessing of God, 
 you are better. I hope you find the climate 
 easier for you. Let me know how you are, 
 and whether you want any thing. Your trust 
 is in Christ, and you enjoy his presence, I 
 hope, continually. That is a feast for the soul 
 that makes up for every thing. He will give 
 you strength for whatever he has for you to 
 do. He is a gracious, compassionate, loving 
 Saviour. He is for you your home, your 
 country, your physician, your portion, your 
 all. You have only to keep near to Him, and 
 in every thing by prayer and supplication 
 with thanksgiving to let your requests be 
 made known to God, and the peace of God, 
 that passeth all understanding, shall keep 
 your heart and mind through Christ Jesus. 
 " Most affectionately and truly yours, 
 
 " GEORGE B.' CHEEVER." 
 
 An unfinished letter was found in Anto- 
 nio's handwriting. The name of the person 
 
FERVENT GRATITUDE. 157 
 
 to whom it was written is not mentioned, but 
 we can readily conjecture whose kind atten- 
 tions were thus tenderly felt. 
 
 " Amfvia Seminary, Tuesday, June 3, 185G. 
 
 " My dear Sir — I have received that kind 
 letter, which has cheered me by presenting 
 the sympathy of the writer. But it has been 
 drenched in the flowing tears of my eyes be- 
 fore I had read it. Dear sir, think not that 
 to be of grief or sorrow: no; but it is from 
 rapture, joy, and ecstasy. I consider it to 
 be the greatest thing ever has been on earth 
 to find such excellent birth and unsullied 
 race cheering me always by his sweetest 
 speech and supplying my want in all. But 
 I say it is not you ; it God's work-hand man- 
 ifest in you." 
 
 As every comfort is sweetened by recog- 
 nizing jjhe hand of God in it, and regarding 
 it as a gift of his love, so the friends of Anto- 
 nio were rendered doubly precious by his 
 habit of acknowledging in them the provi- 
 dence of the Lord. And not only did he view 
 them as blessings of divine Providence, but 
 
158 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 as the workmanship of divine grace. " It 
 is not you; it is God's work-hand mani- 
 fest in you." He knew that man was natu- 
 rally selfish, covetous, and ready to seek his 
 own advantage at the sacrifice of that of oth- 
 ers. He had seen probably, in his own coun- 
 try, much of cruelty and oppression. The 
 discovery of such kindness and affection as 
 Antonio experienced here, and that from 
 comparative strangers, therefore filled him 
 with amazement, and awakened all the ten- 
 der emotions of his heart. It created grati- 
 tude, joy, and rapture; and leading him from 
 the gift to the giver, called forth his praise 
 to that adorable Being who disposes the hu- 
 man heart to love and sympathy, and direct- 
 ed those loving and sympathizing hearts 
 towards himself, a poor stranger in a strange 
 land. 
 
 In the afflictions of Christ's humble poor 
 He has a fellow-feeling, and has taught us 
 by his example on earth to minister to their 
 wants and to comfort them in their sorrows. 
 He exj^erienced the trials of poverty and des- 
 titution, and condescended to the deepest 
 humiliation for our good ; and ours is the ob- 
 
ABANDONS STUDY. 159 
 
 ligation to cultivate the mind of Him, "who 
 though he was rich, for our sakes became 
 poor, that we through his poverty might be 
 made rich." In acts of kindness to the des- 
 titute of Christ's family, we honor and please 
 their Lord and Saviour, for they are his re- 
 deemed ones, and we give evidence of our 
 faith in the works of charity and benevolence 
 which are its natural fruit. 
 
 Anxious as Antonio was to obtain an edu- 
 cation, and resolute and persevering as he 
 was in defiance of bodily infirmities, yet he 
 was so enfeebled that his strong will and 
 buoyant spirit were compelled to succumb; 
 and in the month of June he felt the neces- 
 sity, and his friends saw it, of abandoning 
 his studies, and the idea was very seriously 
 entertained of a sea-voyage. With a mind 
 pretty well made up to undertake it, he again 
 bade adieu to the seminary and to the pleas- 
 ant associations formed there, and for the 
 present at least, to the hopes connected with 
 the education he was receiving, as enabling 
 him to accomplish the darling purpose of his 
 life, and came to New York. He was for 
 some time confined to his bed, and it became 
 
160 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 so evident that lie was too much prostrated 
 to undergo a voyage, that the idea was aban- 
 doned. 
 
 Instead of sailing for Syria, his books were 
 laid aside, his expectation of becoming a mis- 
 sionary relinquished, and his plans of future 
 usefulness as a laborer in the gospel vineyard 
 were broken up. Emaciated in body, suffer- 
 ing with a heavy cough, far away from his 
 kindred and native land, our interesting 
 friend was indeed passing through the deep 
 waters of affliction. How true it is that man 
 " deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth 
 his steps ;" that we plan and purpose a 
 course of action and anticipate its results, 
 but the divine mind may have determined 
 altogether differently. The comfort of the 
 Christian consists in knowing that his way is 
 thus ordered by infinite wisdom and love, for 
 he is conscious of his ignorance and short- 
 sightedness and inability to govern himself. 
 He knows that if left to the guidance of his 
 own fallible judgment he would be likely to 
 err, and inflict upon himself and upon others 
 the most serious injury. With pleasure there- 
 fore he recognizes the supremacy of God, 
 
FAITH IN GOD. 161 
 
 and says, The Lord reigneth, and I will re- 
 joice. 
 
 Antonio no doubt felt the sustaining effi- 
 cacy of this truth, for he loved God and exer- 
 cised in Him the highest confidence. He was 
 too familiar with the word of God to lose 
 sight of His all-controlling providence, and 
 his conceptions of the glorious attributes of 
 Jehovah assured him that what God did was 
 always best. 
 
 In the sorrows of this dear suffering disci- 
 ple the Lord Jesus took a tender interest, 
 and opened to his soul the promises and 
 benefits of the everlasting covenant, assur- 
 ing him that afflictions are among the all 
 things that work together for good. His 
 faith rested upon the Saviour; and in the 
 enjoyment of His presence, in the communi- 
 cations of His grace, in the fellowship of his 
 soul with Him, he had meat which others 
 knew not of — a holy peace, a pure and satis- 
 fying consolation, that converted his sick- 
 room into a Bethel, and gave him a foretaste 
 of heaven. 
 
 There is a gracious design in the afflictions 
 which our heavenly Father sends upon his 
 
 Bishallany. 1 1 
 
162 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 children : they are the trials of their faith 
 and obedience. As God tempted or tried 
 Abraham by commanding the sacrifice of his 
 only son, so he puts the piety of his people 
 to the test; and blessed is that man who, 
 having passed through the fiery ordeal, is 
 proven to be of the pure gold, and whose 
 "faith, being more precious than gold, though 
 it be tried by fire, shall be found unto praise 
 and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus 
 Christ." 
 
 Afflictions are designed to purify the heart 
 from the dross of corruption and to brighten 
 its Christian virtues. He chasteneth us for 
 our profit, that we may be partakers of his 
 holiness, that we may be assimilated to his 
 moral character and fitted for a higher and 
 nobler existence. They are intended to wean 
 us from earth, to render us sensible that the 
 dearest joys we have below may vanish from 
 our sight ; and that if we would secure a pure 
 and substantial bliss, we must look away 
 from the creature to the Creator, from the 
 things that are seen and temporal to those 
 that are unseen and eternal. They are de- 
 signed to elevate our hearts towards heaven, 
 
CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY. 163 
 
 to cause us to feel that this world is not our 
 home, and that we have here no continuing 
 city, but seek one to come, a city which hath 
 foundations, whose maker and builder is God. 
 The rich personal experience of this humble 
 servant of Christ, and his habit of drawing 
 instruction and comfort from the living foun- 
 tain of divine truth, qualified him thus to rec- 
 ognize the purpose of God in the disappoint- 
 ments and sufferings which had crossed his 
 pathway. He knew they came from the Be- 
 ing who loved him and whom he loved, and 
 they drew his soul nearer to the great attract- 
 ing centre of his affections. His perfections 
 he adored, His person he loved, in His word 
 he reposed his trust, and to His will he bowed 
 in humble and cheerful acquiescence. 
 
 While he was confined to his room or his 
 bed, kind Christian friends without had not 
 forgotten him. Many hearts turned towards 
 him with sympathy, and many prayers went 
 up to God in his behalf. 
 
 The following letter from a pious female 
 friend must have been a cordial to his 
 heart. 
 
164 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 " Richfield Springs, July 6, 1856. 
 
 " My dear Friend — It is with much sad- 
 ness I learn through rny sister that you are 
 not as well as you were when I last saw you. 
 And I fear you must be very much worse, as 
 you have been obliged to leave your study, 
 for that I know was the strongest desire of 
 your heart, to fit yourself for preaching the 
 gospel for the benefit of your fellow-crea- 
 tures. 
 
 " But it may be, Antonio, that your heav- 
 enly Father sees fit to spare you farther labor 
 on earth, and is fitting you to fill a more ex- 
 alted station. To know that we are under 
 a divine Leader, and that he knoweth all 
 things, is indeed a comfort to our fainting 
 hearts. And of you it may be truly said, 
 ' When my father and mother forsake me, 
 the Lord will take me up.' Your path has 
 been an uncommon one, plucked as it were 
 from the burning, from darkness and error, 
 and brought to a knowledge of the blessed 
 Saviour. A bed of sickness is, many times, 
 like a refiner's fire. May it prove so to you 
 and to me, my dear friend. How well I know 
 how to sympathize with you. But while we 
 
LOOKING UP. 165 
 
 see the dark things of this world departing 
 and are sad, look up. I regret very, very 
 much that I am not able to administer to yoiu 
 comfort. I am still suffering from debility, 
 which makes me think the more of you. . . . 
 Hoping to hear you are more comfortable, 
 "I remain your sincere friend, 
 
 " E. St. J." 
 
 Wise and animating advice to " look tip." 
 What relief would the tempest-tossed Chris- 
 tian find, did he often turn away from the 
 billows that beat against his bark, and look 
 up to Him who rules the winds and the 
 waves. He can either rescue us from the 
 calamities that have befallen us, or can give 
 us grace to bear them. Looking to Him, we 
 may see a Father's face smiling through the 
 cloud, and hear a voice saying, "It is I; be 
 not afraid." 
 
 What a comfort, amid this world's sorrows, 
 to look up to that bright and happy home, 
 where the weary shall be at rest, and where 
 sickness, pain, sorrow, or sin shall never dis- 
 turb the peace of the redeemed. 
 
 
166 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 " Look up to yonder world ; 
 
 See myriads round the throne ; 
 Each bears a golden harp, 
 
 And wears a glorious crown. 
 With zeal they strike the sacred lyre, 
 And strive to raise their praises higher." 
 
 Antonio had fixed his eye upon that celes- 
 tial world. He could say, "Blessed be the 
 God and Father of our Lord and Saviour 
 Jesus Christ, who of his eternal purpose 
 hath begotten us unto a lively hope in Je- 
 sus Christ, to an inheritance incorruptible, 
 undefiled, and that facleth not away." He 
 looked- up and hoped to be with Jesus, and 
 behold his face in righteousness — to be one 
 of those blood-washed myriads who stand 
 around the throne of God — to have a crown 
 of glory upon his head and a golden harp in 
 his hand, and to join the general song of 
 rjraise that will be poured forth to God and 
 the Lamb. 
 
 Antonio's critical state and great weakness 
 requiring constant skilful attention, a suc- 
 cessful effort was made to secure for him the 
 superior accommodations of the New York 
 Hospital, on Broadway, which was founded 
 
IN THE HOSPITAL. 167 
 
 by a voluntary association, and is sustained 
 by the subscription of its members and the 
 contributions of the benevolent. Many of 
 the patients whose circumstances are limited 
 are received gratuitously, and others who 
 have the means to do so, pay a certain amount 
 per week. Many persons of respectability 
 residing at hotels and boarding-houses, when 
 suffering from sickness or injuries, go to the 
 hospital to avail themselves of the superior 
 advantages of nursing and medical attention 
 which are there to be enjoyed. Here Anto- 
 nio had a large room to himself, and received 
 the kind attentions of Mr. Darrach, the intel- 
 ligent and faithful superintendent, and his 
 amiable and excellent wife, and the visits of 
 his numerous friends. For several weeks he 
 arose as usual in the morning, and remained 
 irp during the day, sometimes walking out on 
 the grounds to enjoy the refreshing air. But 
 his disease gained rapidly, and his sufferings 
 were go great that he sometimes became im- 
 patient and irritable. A colored nurse notic- 
 ing this, at first thought it not consistent 
 with his being a true Christian ; but she at 
 length changed her mind, and said her com- 
 
168 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 plaint arose more from want of grace in her- 
 self than in him. She is now, we trust, with 
 him among the spirits of the just made per- 
 fect. Antonio had been accustomed to yield 
 most careful service and attention to those 
 who were entitled to it from time to time, 
 and now when the tables were reversed, he 
 required equal faithfulness from others. " I 
 have been not a little amused," observes one 
 who saw him often, " at his decided manner 
 where service was due to him. It was not 
 violent or unkind, but it was in the tone of 
 one requiring something to which he was en- 
 titled." 
 
 The dispensations of Providence towards 
 him were indeed dark and inscrutable. He 
 had seemed directly called to missionary la- 
 bor, and the way was marvellously opened 
 before him. His whole soul was inspired 
 with a longing desire to embark in the work. 
 " "Woe is me," he exclaimed, " if I preach not 
 the gospel." " Do you think," said he, "that 
 I would otherwise have abandoned my prop- 
 erty, submitted first to the neglect and con- 
 tempt of my friends, and then have been sepa- 
 rated from them and left my home to come to 
 
"THY WILL BE DONE." 169 
 
 a strange land among strangers?" And 
 now, just as by severe toil he had mastered 
 the English language so that there was 
 real pleasure in his studies, and he could 
 fairly enter the wide field of usefulness for 
 which he had so long and so ardently panted, 
 and felt that he had the weapons with which 
 successfully to attack the strong-holds of Sa- 
 tan which he saw reared around him, was he 
 to die? Could such be the will of God? He 
 thought not. 
 
 But when he came to view his disappoint- 
 ments and sickness and sufferings and frus- 
 trated designs and blasted hopes in the light 
 of divine dispensations, and felt that God his 
 heavenly Father was the author of them all, 
 his mind became calm, and with the spirit of 
 humble and holy resignation he said, " Thy 
 will be done." 
 
 To his friends he was always kind and 
 affable, usually receiving them with a sweet 
 smile. The number who visited him, in- 
 cluding several clergymen from different de- 
 nominations who had become interested in 
 him, proved he had a place in the hearts of 
 those who knew him. Among the clergymen 
 

 nO ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 whom lie gladly welcomed, was the Rev. Dr. 
 Holdich, who thus writes : 
 
 " On receiving from him a request to call 
 and see him, I took the first opportunity of 
 so doing, and found him sitting up indeed, 
 but much reduced in flesh, and evidently fail- 
 ing very fast. I called on him repeatedly 
 after this, and I remember very well the state 
 of his mind and the general drift of his re- 
 marks. From my first interview he had no 
 hope of recovery. He even thought his end 
 very near, much nearer in fact than it proved. 
 Yet he expressed no regrets. He seemed 
 peaceful and resigned. He observed that 
 God had been faithful to him, and that noth- 
 ing had failed of all God's promises. At 
 each visit he requested me to pray with him, 
 always desiring that I would first read a por- 
 tion of the Scriptures. 
 
 "At another visit, when speaking of his 
 anticipated death, he remarked that ' he had 
 nothing to complain of. God had been very 
 good to him. Yet he did sometimes regret 
 that he was not permitted to finish his edu- 
 cation, and return to his own country to 
 preach the gospel to his countrymen.' He 
 
HIS RELATIVES. 171 
 
 expressed also a wish that he might have 
 been permitted to live and acquire sufficient 
 ability to publish his own views of the holy 
 Scriptures. It was evidently his* impression 
 that, by very close and diligent study of the 
 Bible, he had acquired a clearer and deeper 
 insight into the meaning of the sacred record 
 than most persons possess. 
 
 " On another occasion, finding he could not 
 endure much longer, I inquired something 
 about his relations in Syria, and asked if he 
 wished any communication to be made to 
 them. He replied that he had attended to 
 all that ; and that as soon as he found or be- 
 lieved his recovery hopeless, he had written 
 a letter to inform his friends of his condi- 
 tion; that it would be found in his trunk; 
 and that he desired that after his death it 
 might be forwarded. 
 
 " During all this time he appeared to rest 
 upon the atonement of Christ, and seemed 
 to be filled with peace and hope through 
 faith in him. Towards the latter part of his 
 life, he suffered much pain; his breathing 
 became oppressed, and it was very difficult 
 for him to converse. On one occasion he re- 
 
172 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 quested that at his death I would attend and 
 perform the funeral services, which I agreed 
 to do. He died, however, while I was out of 
 town. 
 
 " The last call I made on him was less 
 satisfactory than the others, on account of 
 his exhaustion and inability to converse. I 
 spoke to him on the mysteries of divine provi- 
 dence, the design and, under the divine Spir- 
 it, the purifying effect of suffering, the neces- 
 sity of submission and patience, with such 
 other topics as his situation suggested, to all 
 which he seemed to pay great attention. I 
 then read the Scriptures and offered prayer. 
 As I took leave he pressed my hand, and 
 thanked me for what I had said, and for 
 coming to see him." 
 
 We here insert a translation of the letter 
 Antonio addressed to his brother, to be for- 
 warded after his decease. It will be consid- 
 ered a remarkable production, glowing with 
 pious sentiment expressive of his own peace 
 and Christian hopes, and his concern for the 
 spiritual welfare of his beloved kindred and 
 Mends. It was written in Arabic, with an 
 accompanying note in English to Mr. H , 
 
FAREWELL LETTER. 173 
 
 who has forwarded it to Syria agreeably to 
 the writer's request. 
 
 " To Soleema, on Mount Lebanon, Syria: 
 
 [" To be delivered into the hands of Hinna (John) 
 Saad, Allah, or to Abraham Joseph Bishallany.] 
 
 " Do not ask any thing belonging to the 
 inheritance from this country. The income 
 was sufficient for my physician, and the ex- 
 penses of instruction and the schools only are 
 found in the library of books, amounting to 
 a sum of two thousand piastres. They are 
 all in the English language — would be of no 
 use to you, and are willed to my friends here. 
 May God prolong your life. 
 
 " In the words of the poet, 
 
 " The man of fear appears from under his 
 hiding-place. 
 
 " The heart has melted from very hard- 
 ship. 
 
 " The eye weeps for the sejDaration from 
 friends. 
 
 " At this distance there is no one near me 
 or to meet in a busy, noisy world. 
 
 " No questions but in the day of account- 
 ing. There debtor and creditor will meet 
 
174 ANTONIO BISHaLLANY. 
 
 face to face, and justice will be rendered on 
 demanding, and give every one his right ; and 
 the false are cast ont, and the wicked plunged 
 into Satan's jail, and the righteous elevated 
 to the highest places." 
 
 "From New York, America, to Soleema, on Mount Leba- 
 non, Syria: 
 
 " To MY MOST HONOKED AND ESTEEMED BRETH- 
 
 ken, John Saad, Allah, and Abraham — May 
 the Master of all things preserve them in 
 peace. 
 
 "After presenting you from the depths of 
 the heart my salutations, and asking after 
 your health, my wish is that you be in the 
 enjoyment of complete health and prosperity. 
 Then if it should please you to ask after the 
 condition of him who has none, (in the body,) 
 only friendship and amity, at the date hereof 
 he is in a very bad state under the mercy of 
 God. The reason of that is this : he took a 
 cold in the month of Nisan, (April,) 1855, and 
 in this country all the doctors refused to 
 bleed, for bleeding is not the treatment here, 
 and not one could be found who would agree 
 to let blood. Then my cold came on afresh 
 
FAREWELL LETTER. 175 
 
 with a bad cough, and I was put under med- 
 ical care, and took medicines until I spent 
 about eight thousand piastres ; and in all this 
 illness I was not confined to bed, and was 
 continually pursuing my studies and learn- 
 ing gradually without stopping at all. I took 
 cold again in the month of Haziran, (June,) 
 1856, and then felt as if I was no longer for 
 this world. Then I wrote this explanation, 
 and will leave it with one of my friends in 
 this country ; and when I die, for him to send 
 it to my country, that they may know the 
 reason, and their minds be not confused at 
 the cessation of correspondence between us 
 in this vain world. 
 
 " Since every creature must die, and every 
 righteous soul will be gathered unto Christ 
 the Redeemer in the immortal world, I hope 
 to meet you before the Judge when he shall 
 be sitting on his throne in glory, purified 
 from sin and become sons of his right hand, 
 as promised from the beginning of the world, 
 there like the angels of the Father, in unity, 
 without separation, and live together in a new 
 world without beginning or end. I write 
 you that you may not think that what has 
 
176 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 happened to me lias been through careless- 
 ness or through neglect, for I was well treat- 
 ed and served in every respect. Neither must 
 you think that I die unhappy, for I am truly 
 happy in separating from this world, and my 
 eyes are filled with all things, (abundantly 
 satisfied with every thing.) I have no longer 
 any desire for this world, and have -had. 
 enough of it. Truly have I passed good and 
 happy times here with my Christian brothers 
 in this country, as I can say, Even Solomon 
 in all his glory has not seen a better or more 
 happy time than I have. I go happy, reach- 
 ing forward to join my Saviour, the Saviour 
 of all that .come unto him. And I pray you 
 earnestly to seek him, to abandon all earthly 
 vanities, to hold fast unto truth, and wash 
 yourselves in His blood, that you may be 
 clean from your old uncleanness. Here I 
 present you my best salutations, and here 
 for the last time can I say, Peace be unto 
 you. Mourn not at all, but be glad of heart 
 and in ease of mind. I beseech you, O brother 
 Abraham, to kiss for me the hands of mother ; 
 take care of her and of brother David. I 
 pray to God our Creator, that he may make 
 
FAREWELL LETTER. H7 
 
 easjr to you the way of life and prosper your 
 affairs, and be with you in all circumstances. 
 Now I pray you present my salutations to all 
 relations and friends, especially from one go- 
 ing to leave this vain world. May God the 
 Master preserve you from all evil and trouble 
 and danger, and keep you in all good. 
 
 " I have written this while able to do so, 
 but without date, since I know not when I 
 shall be called away. 
 
 " Your brother, 
 
 " ANTONIO, 
 " Son of Joseph, son of Daher the Bishallany, from So- 
 lee ma, on mount Lebanon." 
 
 COPY OF THE ACCOMPANYING NOTE. 
 
 " Mr. J. C. H This is the letter which 
 
 ought to be sent after you shall bury me, or 
 after my death, to my home, but not before ; 
 for it contains the explanation of my disease, 
 and (it is) the last letter they will receive 
 from me in this transitory world. Dear sir, 
 I am the person that your goodness has con- 
 ferred (favor) upon. 
 
 " I am, with much regard, yours, 
 
 • VO. BISHALLANY. 
 
 Bishallany. \ 2 
 
178 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 " I beg you that it be directed to Mr. 
 George C. Hurter, Beirut, and lie will direct 
 it to rny home." 
 
 What a consolatory letter, and how full of 
 affection ! Separation and trial had not di- 
 minished his love for his endeared relatives. 
 From the statement received from his Syrian 
 friend Abdallah el Watwat, that Antonio's 
 mother and brother Abraham were continu- 
 ally sending letters inquiring after him, we 
 infer that the alienation of feeling and hos- 
 tility they indulged at the period of his leav- 
 ing home had in a measure worn off, or per- 
 haps given place to renewed attachment and 
 confidence. Antonio must have received 
 this intimation with peculiar pleasure, and 
 felt the emotions of reciprocal affection glow 
 with fresh ardor. Love to his mother espec- 
 ially seemed to be a striking and beautiful 
 feature of his character, and her image, now 
 as he was about to leave the world, arose 
 vividly before his mind and revived the ten- 
 derest recollections. He could not die with- 
 out sending this last pledge of his undying 
 love. With what earnest entreaty he writes : 
 
LONGING FOR CHRIST. H9 
 
 "I beseech you, O brother, to kiss for me 
 the hands of mother; take care of her and 
 brother David." It reminds us of the divine 
 Redeemer, who, expiring upon the cross, 
 looked with filial affection upon his mother, 
 and said to a disciple, " Behold thy mother : 
 and from that time the disciple took her unto 
 his own home." 
 
 But devoted as was Antonio's heart to his 
 earthly friends and kindred, he had a dearer 
 Friend in heaven — Jesus his Elder Brother, 
 his compassionate Saviour who died for his 
 redemption. He had committed to him 
 all his material interests, and found him to 
 be his all-sufficient support upon earth, and 
 now he longed to be associated with him in 
 glory. "I go happy, reaching forward to 
 join my Saviour." The presence of Christ 
 constitutes the chief blessedness of heaven. 
 There he will reveal his glory, and pour joy 
 unspeakable into the souls of his saints. And 
 the dying Christian contemplates the vision 
 of his face as the consummation of his fond- 
 est hopes. To see the King in his beauty, to 
 be sheltered in his arms, to enjoy his smiles 
 and favor, to hear his voice, and walk with 
 
180 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 hiru in white on the golden streets of the 
 new Jerusalem, forms his highest idea of 
 happiness. Panl desired to be with Jesus. 
 John wrote of seeing him as he is ; and Da- 
 vid exclaimed, "I shall behold thy face in 
 righteousness." And Antonio only mani- 
 fested a heart in unison with these ancient 
 servants of God, when " he reached forward 
 to join his Saviour, the Saviour of all who 
 come to him." 
 
 The hope which this precious child of God 
 cherished was an anchor to his soul while 
 tossed upon the rough waters, driven by the 
 tempest of affliction and suffering. He look- 
 ed to heaven, and in the dazzling blaze of its 
 glory earth vanished out of his sight. He 
 had enough of it, and had no longer any de- 
 sire for it. A light came from the future to 
 illumine the present, and the sufferings of 
 this life were forgotten in the joy that was 
 approaching. A beam of sunshine emanated 
 frpm the throne of God, and dispelled the 
 clouds of sorrow and changed the rain-drops 
 into forms of light and beaut}*. In this bright 
 and joyous anticipation of the future he cheer- 
 fully resigned his interest in present good, 
 
CHRISTIAN PEACE. 181 
 
 patiently endured his sufferings, calmly wait- 
 ed the time of his departure, and amid the 
 gloom of a sick and lonely chamber called up 
 beautiful visions and bright fancies, such as 
 would come at the bidding of a mind familiar 
 with the images and pictures of the sacred 
 Scriptures. The Holy Bible was the ground 
 of his hope, and the exceeding great and 
 precious promises were no doubt the subject 
 of sweet reflection and the source of rich 
 consolation during this period of his illness. 
 
 "With his faith resting on this blessed word 
 of God, he could contemplate death with com- 
 posure, and speak of his expected decease as 
 an event of agreeable anticipation. He could 
 take his pen and write to his friends in Syria 
 announcing his approaching end, and speak 
 of it as one would speak of an intended jour- 
 ney or visit to a distant place. It was not a 
 forbidding or repulsive thought, but one full 
 of cheering and delightful emotions. " I am 
 truly happy in separating from the world. I 
 hope to meet you before the Judge purified 
 from sin ; there like the angels of the Father 
 in unity, without separation, and live togeth- 
 er in a new world without end." 
 
182 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 What an instructive and consoling epistle 
 was this to be sent from a dying Christian to 
 his friends in Syria. What a testimony to 
 the reality and supporting power of evangeli- 
 cal faith, to be transmitted to those who knew 
 not the pure gospel of salvation. Who can 
 estimate the effect of a letter written under 
 such circumstances, in a spirit so kind, and 
 uttering truths so solemn and impressive? 
 May not God bless these affecting appeals of 
 Antonio, penned on the confines of the eter- 
 nal world, to the conversion of his mother 
 and brothers, and gather them all into the 
 fold of Christ ? 
 
 A second kind letter was received by our 
 sick brother from his excellent friend Mrs. 
 
 St. J , which must have been grateful to 
 
 his heart. 
 
 "Richfield Springs, July 26, 185G. 
 
 "My dear Friend Antonio — I am very 
 happy to hear you are so surrounded with 
 kind friends and comforts, and only regret 
 that it is not my privilege to see you and 
 bear a part in contributing to your comfort; 
 but I can and do offer my feeble prayers for 
 you, that as your day is, so may your strength 
 
FRIENDLY LETTERS. 183 
 
 be. I am now writing you, Antonio, on the 
 little table that you occupied so often last 
 summer, with the Bible you loved so much to 
 study. I never see it without thinking of you, 
 and only wish that I could read it as profita- 
 bly as you did. And now as each day is tak- 
 ing you nearer to your Father's mansion, it 
 is only the selfishness of friends that would 
 wish your stay on earth to be prolonged, for 
 we have the blessed consolation of knowing 
 that our sorrow is not the sorrow of those 
 who have no hope, and that your gain would 
 be very great. 
 
 " Has my dear pastor, the Rev. Dr. Tyng, 
 called to see you ? I know he will, so soon as 
 he learns of your illness; it is his delight 
 to do good, and his presence always imparts 
 comfort in a sick-room, for he loves to speak 
 of Jesus ; and what is there besides Him that 
 can sustain and strengthen us on our bed of 
 sickness and pain ? I know that will be your 
 strong-hold, together with faith in a covenant- 
 keeping God. 
 
 " I remain your sincere friend, 
 
 " E. ST. J." 
 
 The connection of Antonio with the semi- 
 
184 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 nary at Amenia was productive of much 
 pleasure both to himself and to the teachers 
 and pupils. His affable manners and ear- 
 nest piety, together with a natural simplicity 
 of character, won their esteem. His sickness 
 and removal from the institution were deeply 
 regretted; but although absent, he was not 
 forgotten. Sincere and permanent Mends 
 were created among his fellow-students, es- 
 pecially among those whose opinions and 
 feelings on religious things flowed in the 
 same channel with his. Such could not fail 
 to love him for his real excellence, and to 
 seek the advantage of his Christian inter- 
 course. Of these was the writer of the fol- 
 lowing letter, which testifies his abiding af- 
 fection. 
 
 "Amenia, August 15, 1856. 
 
 "Kespected Friend — It is several weeks 
 since I received a letter from your friend Mr. 
 H , informing me of your failure in re- 
 turning to Syria, and your severe illness. 
 
 "I had thought to hear a very different 
 story from you — that your health was becom- 
 ing better, and that you would be permitted 
 to fulfil and accomplish the labor chosen by 
 
FRIENDLY LETTERS. 185 
 
 the blessing of God : but it is otherwise ; and 
 though we cannot see how or what his plans 
 are, yet we can feel that he knows best, and 
 will order all for his own glory and the high- 
 est good of those who love him. I recollect, 
 in reading the life of Obookiah, that he was 
 almost ready to go to his native land with a 
 good education and brilliant talents and fer- 
 vent love to Christ, and by a mysterious 
 providence he was struck down in the height 
 of his hopes; but the sympathy which was 
 awakened by his death led several who were 
 preparing to preach the gospel to turn their 
 attention to the Sandwich islands, and so his 
 death was the means of doing more good 
 than his life could have been. And though 
 you may not do what you wished, yet it is 
 God's work, and he will take care of it. It 
 may be that in the same way or in another 
 salvation will be spread in Syria. 
 
 " The Saviour's presence must be very 
 dear to you in your sickness; and I know 
 that he is near to those who trust in him. 
 
 " My father died a little more than a year 
 ago, and his disease was the same as yours; 
 but his trust in Christ was firm, and he long- 
 
186 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 ed to go and be with him : when he spoke he 
 would almost seem enraptured. And with 
 the hope that we may all be fitted for his 
 coming, I bid you an affectionate farewell. 
 " Sincerely your friend, 
 
 " S. A. S." 
 
 Antonio's chief source of sorrow was his 
 being disabled from returning to preach the 
 gospel in his native land. This was the great 
 desire of his heart, for which he had forsaken 
 his country, faced the perils of the sea, come 
 to a strange land, and labored to acquire the 
 knowledge of our language. He longed to 
 bear the message of salvation to his breth- 
 ren, his kindred according to the flesh, and 
 had looked forward with holy joy to the 
 period when, as a herald of the cross, he 
 should speak of Jesus and him crucified to 
 those who were enshrouded in the gloom of 
 ignorance and superstition. Disappointed in 
 his cherished expectations, he thought with 
 bitter grief of the evils he might have miti- 
 gated, and the good he might have accom- 
 plished, had he gone, and. was ready to ex- 
 claim, Alas, my people, who will go for your 
 deliverance? who will cause the light of 
 
A CONSOLATION. 187 
 
 evangelical truth to shine upon your be- 
 nighted land? The suggestion that his death 
 might accomplish even more than his life 
 met his case. He was ready to die for the 
 gospel's sake; for with Paul he could say, "I 
 am ready not to be bound only, but also to 
 die for the name of the Lord Jesus." It was 
 an animating thought that his removal from 
 earth might be the precious seed from which 
 other laborers might spring, and that thus 
 a rich harvest of souls might be gathered, 
 though his own lips should be closed in the 
 silence of the tomb. 
 
 The sorrows of our friend, from whatever 
 source they came, were alleviated by the 
 power of a living faith beholding the reali- 
 ties of another world. Jesus was near him, 
 and his smiles shed peace upon his soul. God 
 was ripening him for heaven, staying his feet 
 more firmly upon the Rock of ages, and draw- 
 ing his soul upwards towards himself. 
 
 About this period Antonio addressed a let- 
 ter to Mr. H , in which we see the 
 
 strength of his faith in the gospel, and its 
 influence upon his heart, as well as that ten- 
 der affection and gratitude which were so 
 
188 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 beautifully manifested towards those who 
 ministered to his comfort. 
 
 " My beloved Mr. J. C. H. : 
 
 " Dear Sir — I believe that after our sepa- 
 ration from this transitory world, your benef- 
 icent and sympathizing heart will feel sor- 
 row on my account. But let us now use the 
 language of the apostle, who said, ' For here 
 we have no continuing city, but we seek 
 one to come.' I believe that God at first 
 made the universe, and man after all ; for it 
 is only to show him the marvellous hand- 
 work of his Maker, and to muse himself in it 
 for a while, being the garden and not the con- 
 tinuing home. So it is, my dear sir, your 
 beneficence has not left any thing in the 
 world that I wanted and you have not done it. 
 You have done to me as Christ did to Laz- 
 arus ; for you have showed me gladness, joy, 
 and glory more than that which I had expect- 
 ed. But all these things are strength to my 
 belief, and prove to me the sureness of the 
 gospel. For it is said the gospel — in them 
 that are saved, and them that perish — to the 
 one is the savor of death unto death, and to 
 
TO A DEAR FRTEND. 189 
 
 the believer the gospel is the savor of life 
 unto life. For the gospel opened the gate of 
 heaven, and by the same gospel the gate of 
 hell is opened. Yes, I knew it by experience : 
 in the time of my investigation of the Scrip- 
 tures, and different doctrines and laws, I be- 
 came infidel ; then I felt that I was standing 
 on the gate of hell, and was going to step 
 into it. But, lo, the voice of the prophet 
 Ezekiel, saying unto me, ' Turn ye, turn ye 
 from your evil ways ; for why will you die ?' 
 Ezek. 33 : 11. And Christ crying, ' Come ye 
 all unto me, and ye shall live.' And he said 
 also, ■ The dead shall hear the voice of the 
 Son of God, and they that hear shall live.' 
 Then I said in myself, I will hear these voices 
 and follow them and try them, and see wheth- 
 er all these sayings are sure. But I found 
 them to be a strong high Rock of salvation, 
 and strong high rock of destruction ; mighty 
 to save, and mighty to destroy — mighty to 
 destroy them only who deny the gospel, the 
 savor of death unto death. When I was far 
 from him, I was dead ; but when I heard his 
 voice, I lived with you in the kingdom of 
 Christ, having been dead. For the kingdom of 
 
190 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 Christ in this world is the happiness of Chris- 
 tians, that they may be able to prepare for 
 that which is to come. Therefore I am not 
 dying, bnt going to my eternal home, the 
 everlasting kingdom, to praise him with the 
 angels of his Father in heaven. Therefore 
 rejoice at this, and be glad ; therefore I leave 
 unto you my peace and my love. 
 "Your beloved, 
 
 "AO. BISHALLANY." 
 
 " Soon after entering the hospital," writes 
 
 Mr. H , "he entirely threw aside his 
 
 books and put his house in order for another 
 world. For some time previous to his death, 
 he expressed his wishes as to what should 
 be done when he should cease to be. He 
 had written a letter in Arabic to his friends 
 in Syria, announcing his death, which he de- 
 sired to be forwarded after his decease. He 
 wished his Arabic clothes to be sent home, 
 where they could be worn and be of use ; and 
 saddened me much on one occasion bv insist- 
 ing that I should remove his books and oth- 
 er effects, which he desired me to keep. He 
 was much delighted by a ride through Green- 
 
HOSPITAL SCENE. 191 
 
 wood Cemetery, and I promised that when 
 he died he should be buried there." 
 
 Mr. Darrach the superintendent was sen- 
 sibly impressed with the striking qualities of 
 Antonio. He not only was pleased to render 
 his situation as comfortable as possible, but 
 found special gratification in presenting to 
 him the consolations of the gospel. In the 
 different interviews he held with him, he was 
 often surprised and delighted with the pious 
 and elevated sentiments that would drop 
 from his lips, expressions of attachment to 
 the Bible, forcible illustrations of scriptural 
 truth, and sudden outbursts of joy at the dis- 
 covery of the glory of Christ and the pros- 
 pect of heaven. One of these remarkable 
 occasions he thus records : 
 
 "During the evening twilight of a day, 
 about two weeks since, I sat at the bedside 
 of our deceased friend Antonio Bishallany. 
 I had presented various passages of Scrip- 
 ture, and from the lives of Christians, confirm- 
 atory of the necessity of submission to the 
 divine will, as preparatory to fuller and more 
 complete assimilation of the human charac- 
 ter to that of the divine, and greater fitness 
 
192 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 for the enjoyment of holy society. For the 
 purpose of ascertaining his assent to the 
 views I had presented, I closed my remarks 
 with the words, ' You believe these views ?' 
 with an interrogative accent. 
 
 " Our friend received my query as expres- 
 sive of doubt on my part of his fall belief in 
 the Scriptures. After a satisfactory explana- 
 tion to remove such impression, he rose in 
 his bed, and with a much more than usual 
 strength of voice, addressing me by name, he 
 uttered these words : 
 
 " ' I believe the Bible to be the book of 
 revelation, the book of knowledge, the book 
 of wisdom, the book of salvation, the book of 
 life ; to it I devoted my life. 
 
 " ' Mr. Darrach,' he repeated with strong 
 emphasis, ' you place a copy of the Bible in 
 my coffin, and let it be buried with me.' 
 
 To a friend who made a morning call and 
 asked how he was, he replied, " I am unwell ; 
 through the mercy of God, Christ is all to 
 me, and I am all to him." When asked if he 
 feared to die, he answered, " Oh no ; he says 
 to me, ' In my Father's house are many man- 
 sions;' why should I fear?" His faith was 
 
HIS LAST DAYS. 193 
 
 simple and confiding like that of a little child. 
 He seemed to rest entirely on the teaching of 
 the Bible, and Christ therein revealed as the 
 Saviour of sinners. 
 
 " For several days previous to his death," 
 
 continues the narrative of Mr. H , "he 
 
 did not eat, the difficulty of swallowing being 
 so great, and he remarked that it was useless 
 to prolong his sufferings. I saw him on the 
 morning of the day he died. He seemed to 
 be perfectly at rest. His eyes were fixed as 
 if gazing upon something, and a pleasant 
 smile played upon his features. He did not 
 notice any thing, not even my entering or 
 presence. The nurse however approached 
 him, and asked him if he knew me ; without 
 any change of position, he uttered my name, 
 which, so far as I know, were his last words. 
 I added an inquiry as to his state of mind in 
 view of the great change awaiting him, to 
 which he paid no seeming attention, and 
 gave no response — his gaze continuing fixed, 
 a placid smile resting upon his features. His 
 breathing became heavy, and soon his spirit 
 took its flight " to the arms of that Saviour 
 whom he so ardently loved. 
 
 Bishallany. 13 
 
194 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 Thus lie expired, on the 22d of August, 
 1856, at the age of twenty-nine years ; and it 
 is a coincidence worthy of notice, that his 
 birth, his departure from Syria, and his death 
 occurred on the same day of the same month, 
 August 22. 
 
 Agreeably to Antonio's request, Mr. Dar- 
 rach placed a copy of the Bible with its opened 
 leaves upon his breast, as he reposed in his cof- 
 fin, and it was deposited with him in the tomb. 
 
 The funeral services were held on Sabbath 
 afternoon, the Rev. Messrs. Jones, Milburn, 
 and Dr. Crooks officiating. Although at a 
 season of the year when very many of his 
 friends were out of the city, and every cler- 
 gyman who was acquainted with him, yet a 
 goodly number met to pay their last respects. 
 His remains were conveyed to Greenwood 
 Cemetery. Alot was subsequently purchased, 
 and beneath a simple tombstone rests all that 
 is mortal of Antonio Bishallany. 
 
 " Thou art gone to the grave, but we will not deplore thee, 
 
 Though sorrow and darkness encompass thy tomb ; 
 
 The Saviour hath passed through its portals before 
 
 thee, 
 
 And the lamp of his love is thy guide through its 
 
 gloom." 
 
THE WAY OF PEACE. 195 
 
 "Would you thus peacefully enter the eter- 
 nal world, rejoicing like the weary traveller 
 at reaching his home? Then build your 
 hoj^es, as did Antonio, upon the " high Rock 
 of salvation." Jesus has laid an immovable 
 basis for the confidence, peace, and hopes 
 of men in his atoning sacrifice, and he in- 
 vites you to repose in him all your immor- 
 tal interests. " Other foundation can no 
 man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus 
 Christ." They who build elsewhere build 
 their house upon the sand, which will be 
 swept away by the coming tempest. But 
 here is a sure refuge for poor sinners, and 
 Jesus freely invites vou to come and trust in 
 him. He who looked with pitying eye upon 
 the poor Syrian, loves you and -anxiously 
 seeks your happiness. He came from heav- 
 en and died that you might live. He has 
 long knocked at the door of your heart, im- 
 ploring admission ; and if you will open the 
 door, he will come in and fill your soul 
 with peace. He is able and willing to save. 
 His righteousness is adequate to cover your 
 guilt, and his Spirit to renew and sanctify 
 your heart. All that you need to atone for 
 
196 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 sin, to give peace to jour conscience, to en- 
 lighten your mind, to strengthen you for 
 duty, to support you in trial, and to fit you 
 for heaven, is secured to you in Christ, who 
 with himself will freely give you all things. 
 Only believe, and he will be your Saviour ; 
 and being yours, you will have nothing to 
 fear, for " there is no condemnation to them 
 who are in Christ Jesus." 
 
 Devote yourself to Christ in the spirit of 
 entire consecration, not only to be saved by 
 him, but to love and serve and honor him by 
 a life of active usefulness. Catch his spirit 
 and imitate his example who went about 
 doing good. Like Antonio, desire to live 
 that you may do something for Christ ; and 
 having labored for his cause, and blessed the 
 world by your Christian influence, your dying 
 hours will be cheered by the retrospect of a 
 life well spent ; and instead of having the in- 
 scription upon your gravestone, Here lies one 
 who did nothing for Christ, your epitaph 
 will be, " Blessed are the dead which die in 
 the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the 
 Spirit ; that they may rest from their labors, 
 and their works do follow them." 
 
HIS TOMB. 
 
 191 
 
 The tombstone denoting the resting-place 
 of our departed friend is white marble, with 
 
198 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 a granite base.-" Sculptured upon it are 
 figures of a lion, a serpent, and a lamb, de- 
 signed to represent his fearlessness, wisdom, 
 and blamelessness ; and upon a raised shield 
 beneath is the inscription : 
 
 " ANTONIO BISHALLANY, 
 
 BORN NEAR BEIRUT, SYRIA, 
 AUGUST 22, 1827. 
 
 DIED IN NEW YORK, AUGUST 22, 1856. 
 
 " EDUCATED A MARONITE CATHOLIC, HE FOUND, 
 AFTER LONG AND EARNEST EXAMINATION AMTD 
 TRIALS AND DANGERS, THAT THE SCRIPTURES 
 HAYE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE. 
 
 "OBEDIENT TO THE COMMAND OFTEN UPON 
 HIS LIPS, 'FREELY YE HAYE RECEIYED, FREELY 
 GIYE,' HE CAME TO AMERICA TO PREPARE FOR 
 MISSIONARY LABOR, AND STUDIED WITH UNABAT- 
 ED ZEAL. 
 
 " BUT GOD SENT DISEASE TO CALL HIM HOME. 
 
 * For the guidance of those who would wish to visit 
 the grave of our Christian brother, we would say that 
 it is located on Sassafras avenue, in Greenwood Ceme- 
 tery, lot 10,197, section 181. 
 
THE INSCRIPTION. 199 
 
 HIS MANY FRIENDS REGARD HIM AS A MAN WHO 
 KNEW NO FEAR, BLAMELESS BEYOND REPROACH, 
 AND SINGULARLY WISE TO OYERTHROW ERROR 
 AND UPHOLD TRUTH. 
 
 "READER, WILL YOU MEET HIM IN HEAVEN?" 
 
200 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 COXCLUSIOX. 
 
 Since the decease of our interesting friend, 
 the Rev. Andrew J. Hunt, the Principal of 
 the Anienia Seminary, has furnished the fol- 
 lowing beautiful tribute to his character. 
 
 " My first acquaintance with Antonio was 
 in the autumn of 1855. I was at that time in 
 charge of the Amenia Seminary, and after 
 hearing from a friend the story of the young 
 Syrian's conversion, was very glad to under- 
 take the direction of his studies, and give 
 such aid as I might in preparing him for his 
 chosen work. On his first coining to the 
 school, I had some anxiety lest his oriental 
 peculiarities might expose him to the jokes 
 of thoughtless or mischievous boys; and 
 knowing of no better protection for him than 
 the charm of his own story, I briefly related 
 to the students, before Antonio's appearance 
 among them, the leading incidents of his his- 
 tory. He was at once the hero of the school. 
 The young men vied with one another in 
 
A TEACHER'S TRIBUTE. 201 
 
 showing him kind attentions, and I do not 
 remember that he suffered any inconvenience 
 or disrespect during all the time that he 
 spent in the institution. Indeed there was 
 that in the gentleness of his ways and sim- 
 plicity of his spirit, brightened often by the 
 play of true humor, which, aside from the in- 
 terest of his life, would secure him friends in 
 any society. Even the roughest nature felt 
 the attraction and restraint of his genuine 
 spirituality. 
 
 " As a student he labored under great dis- 
 advantages from his imperfect acquaintance 
 with our language, but his zeal for study 
 knew no bounds. He was eager to under- 
 take tenfold more than he could accomplish, 
 though yielding quietly to such direction and 
 restraint as I found it necessary to give. Any 
 labor or denial he counted small, if only he 
 might become prepared to return to his na- 
 tive Syria and labor as a missionary among 
 his own people. His health was very mani- 
 festly impaired, and he often seemed to real- 
 ize that his time was short ; but this convic- 
 tion only seemed to intensify his desire and 
 endeavor. 'I am in the afternoon,' he said 
 
202 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 to me one day ; ' I am late in the afternoon : 
 I must make haste ; I want to learn all I can ; 
 the sun is almost down. I pray Him to let 
 me live; but if not,' and he pointed upward, 
 while the eagerness on his face changed to a 
 look of sweet submission — ' but if not, I am 
 ready, always ready.' 
 
 "His strength failed so rapidly that he was 
 not able to make any great proficiency in his 
 studies, but did enough to show capacities of 
 no ordinary rank. His perceptions were clear 
 and direct, and there was a certain alertness 
 about his mental powers that gave peculiar 
 vivacity to all his ideas and expressions. 
 There were few persons in the house whose 
 conversation was more uniformly entertain- 
 ing. The English Bible he had not only 
 read but studied, until he seemed perfectly 
 familiar with all its parts; and I often sat 
 and listened in surprise to his comments on 
 the prophecies and the inner meaning of the 
 profounder passages of the holy word. And 
 this brings me to say that it was mainly as a 
 Christian that Antonio laid such strong claim 
 to my interest. The romance of his history, 
 together with his pleasant simplicity of man- 
 
A TEACHER'S TRIBUTE. 203 
 
 ners and eager thirst for knowledge, made 
 him distinguished among my pupils; but it 
 was his religious character that has given 
 him a permanent place in my memory. Per- 
 haps I shall best characterize his piety by 
 saying that it was preeminently a life of faith. 
 It was always refreshing to us in our social 
 meetings, hampered as we too often were by 
 our fears and distrust, to witness Antonio's 
 simple and entire reliance upon God's word. 
 It did not seem to occur to him to doubt ; but 
 he really received the Bible just as it is, and 
 believed it, promises and all. Nor was this an 
 unproved faith ; it had been sorely tried : he 
 had made great sacrifices for Christ ; he had 
 given up father, mother, friends, home, posses- 
 sions, well-nigh all that a man holds dear in 
 this life ; but his faith made all this loss gain. 
 I remember that once, after alluding to these 
 sacrifices with much tenderness, he repeated 
 the promise of our Saviour, Matt. 19 : 29, and 
 went on to thank the Lord for its rich fulfil- 
 ment to him. 'I have left my great good 
 mother,' he said, 'but God has given me a 
 thousand mothers in this country. Every 
 man is my father and my brother.' His fam- 
 
204 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 ily attachments were very strong ; and though 
 he had been sternly banished from home, 
 and rejected by his dearest relatives, he never 
 ceased to pray for them. ' Oh Son of God, I 
 pray you send out your Spirit and save them 
 from their sins !' was a prayer often upon his 
 lips, and uttered very manifestly from the 
 depths of his heart. To go back and tell the 
 story of the cross in his native land was a 
 longing desire that seemed almost like a con- 
 suming fire within him. But God had other 
 plans for his servant. 
 
 " It was but little that I had been able to 
 do for him, and yet such was his thankful- 
 ness that he would persist in treating me 
 with a sort of oriental deference, little 
 knowing that in spirit I always sat at his 
 feet. In midsummer I went abroad for a 
 
 » 
 
 few months. My good-by to Antonio was 
 saddened by the fear that I should not be- 
 hold his face again. He had gone from Ame- 
 nia when I returned, and before I could visit 
 him in New York, I heard that he had enter- 
 ed into his rest. 
 
 " Poor Antonio ! we used often to say as we 
 thought of his banishment from home, and 
 
A TEACHER'S TRIBUTE. 205 
 
 saw from day to day his struggle with pain 
 and disappointment. Rich, happy Antonio ! 
 my heart said as I heard of his release. He 
 lost fields and gardens and home and friends, 
 yea, and life itself; but he gained Christ, and 
 went speedily to dwell with him in the para- 
 dise of God. 
 
 " ' Now of a lasting home possessed, 
 He goes to seek a deeper rest. 
 Good-night : the day was sultry here, 
 
 In toil and fear ; 
 Good-night : the night is cool and clear.' " 
 
 The Eev. Cyrus D. Foss, successor of Mr. 
 Hunt in the Amenia Seminary, writes : " An- 
 tonio's history was certainly a remarkable 
 one, for one so brief. His conversion was 
 surely little short of a miracle. It seems to 
 disprove Dr. Durbin's favorite theory, that 
 the gospel must come to a man by means of 
 a human tongue in order to be effectual. It 
 is surely a matter of most profound gratitude 
 to God, that his Spirit should find out that 
 poor Syrian in a distant land, and bring him 
 to the cross. Antonio appreciated this. My 
 heart was once deeply moved in a prayer- 
 meeting to hear him say, from a full heart, ' I 
 
206 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 thank you that yon sent your Saviour to me 
 way down in Syria.' And it was often the 
 burden of his devout praise that there was 
 one Saviour for all men. 
 
 " He exhibited in beautiful combination an 
 ardent zeal to do good to his countrymen, 
 and an entire submission to the will of God. 
 He made very rapid advancement in the 
 acquisition of all knowledge, especially the 
 divine. When he first came here, he told 
 me he read the Bible in English, but pray- 
 ed in Arabic — that he thought God could not 
 understand English without an interpreter. 
 
 " I was surprised many times at Antonio's 
 deep and extensive knowledge of Scripture. 
 He would often ask me the meaning of dif- 
 ferent texts, and would express views of his 
 own which would do credit to any divine. 
 
 " He has gone to a good school. It would 
 seem as though it would be well if he might 
 have lived to preach the gospel to his coun- 
 trymen ; but ' He doeth all things well.' 
 
 " ' God moves in a mysterious way, 
 His wonders to perform.' 
 
 "We may stand before his strange providen- 
 ces and wonder, but not complain." 
 
INSTRUCTIVE LESSONS. 20T 
 
 INSTEUCTIVE LESSONS. 
 
 This brief memoir furnishes an eminent in- 
 stance of the truth and controlling poiver of the 
 sacred Scriptures. 
 
 He whose character and history we have 
 endeavored to describe was a Bible Chris- 
 tian. From the Bible he learned the way of 
 life, by its influence on the conscience he was 
 convinced of sin, and by the reception of its 
 offered grace he obtained forgiveness, spirit- 
 ual life, and happiness. He came to it as 
 the word of God, and with implicit faith re- 
 lied upon its teachings, believed its promises, 
 and accepted the Saviour whom it revealed. 
 He felt it as a living principle in his soul, cre- 
 ating him anew into the divine image, vitaliz- 
 ing all his moral powers, controlling his opin- 
 ions, affections, and practice, and filling him 
 with the subhmest hopes and richest conso- 
 lation. It was a new volume to him, for its 
 blessed pages had been concealed from his 
 view; and having now access to these living 
 oracles, and seeing that they testified of Je- 
 
208 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 sus and made known the way of salvation to 
 perishing men, he entered npon their inves- 
 tigation with all the ardor of one desiring to 
 know the only true God and Jesus Christ 
 whom he had sent. He applied to the study 
 of the Bible all the vigor of his intellect and 
 the earnestness of his heart. And knowing 
 his need of divine illumination, he sought 
 the guidance of the Holy Spirit. His re- 
 searches were not in vain. He was taught 
 of God, and though laboring under great dis- 
 advantages, he acquired a wonderful insight 
 into the mind of the Spirit. Intelligent Chris- 
 tians listened with surprise and delight to his 
 expositions of prophecies and his explanation 
 of the more profound passages of God's word. 
 He advanced ideas that would do credit to 
 a divine, and exhibited a familiarity with the 
 sacred volume that might be envied by oth- 
 ers enjoying far greater facilities for biblical 
 study. He was able to give a reason for the 
 hope that was in him, to contend for the faith 
 of the gospel, and to hold a controversy with 
 intelligent and learned men in defence of the 
 great principles of evangelical truth. 
 
 His knowledge of the Bible was not deriv- 
 
INSTRUCTIVE LESSONS. 209 
 
 eel from Iranian aid, but from tlie book itself, 
 comparing scripture with scripture, and ob- 
 serving the coincidence of God's truth with 
 the operations of the Christian heart. He 
 approached the Bible with the heart as well 
 as the head, and learned not simply the out- 
 ward letter, but the inward, spiritual import 
 of the word. He that doeth my Father's 
 will, "shall know of the doctrine, whether it 
 be of God." The Spirit shall guide his peo- 
 ple into all truth. There is a beauty and 
 clearness and richness and spiritual import 
 which some minds discern in the Scriptures 
 beyond what is perceived by others. Hum- 
 ble, unlearned disciples of Jesus sometimes 
 far excel the more intellectual though less 
 pious follower of Christ in this spiritual in- 
 sight into the word of God. They may be 
 more sensible of the need of a direct influ- 
 ence from above; and looking for the Spirit 
 to open their eyes and to reveal his mind in 
 the printed page, they do, in ansvv T er to prayer 
 and in fulfilment of God's promise, behold 
 wondrous things in his law. It was so with 
 this devoted, humble, praying servant of 
 Christ. He seemed to gain access to the very 
 
 Bisballany. \ 4 
 
210 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 fountain of light ; and the celestial beams 
 resting upon the holy book brought out its 
 spiritual meaning into visible characters, 
 bright and beautiful, revealing the mind of 
 God. He read them with wonder and rever- 
 ence and joy, and felt their sanctifying and 
 illuminating power. 
 
 But it was not by idle musing or dreamy 
 contemplation that Antonio acquired his 
 knowledge of the Bible ; he studied it with 
 untiring diligence. He remarked to a friend, 
 that "if a person would seek for treasure 
 concealed in a house, he must not simply 
 sweep the floor, but tear up the boards and 
 look beneath the surface ; that the treasures 
 of the Bible were deep down, and must be 
 dug out by daily toil." It was thus he la- 
 bored to understand the sacred volume, and 
 found that " the hand of the diligent maketh 
 rich." 
 
 As was natural to one recently converted, 
 our friend thought he had a clearer percep- 
 tion of the meaning of the sacred record than 
 most persons. And indeed, while he labored 
 under many disadvantages, the fact of his 
 being a native of the country where the Bi- 
 
LIFE IN THE EAST. 211 
 
 ble originated, and where most of its scenes 
 were laid, gave him a great advantage in 
 understanding the holy volume. Many pas- 
 sages in the Scriptures received light from 
 knowing the customs and habits of eastern 
 countries, the style of architecture, mode of 
 cultivating the land, the dress and language 
 of the people. We can learn these things 
 from authors who have described them; but 
 no description can give so vivid an impres- 
 sion as they have who have been residents 
 of the East, and been familiar from child- 
 hood with the scenery of the country, the 
 aspect of their cities and villages, their rural 
 customs, implements of labor, and domestic 
 habits. "With all these Antonio was famil- 
 iar; and in reading the Scriptures he could 
 do so as an Oriental, and readily see the 
 force and beauty of any allusion to or illus- 
 tration drawn from the objects of nature or 
 art, or from the customs and manners of the 
 people. He felt this, and with his native 
 earnestness and forcible gestures would say 
 to those with whom he was conversing, "Oh, 
 you do not see the force of that passage ; you 
 Americans cannot see the rich beauty of the 
 
212 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 Bible ; you must live where the Saviour lived 
 and spoke, and where the apostles wrote, to 
 understand and admire this book of God." 
 
 What an example is here for our imitation. 
 Were Christians to study the Bible with the 
 interest with which this humble Arab did, 
 what rich attainments might they make in 
 divine knowledge ; what acquaintance might 
 they gain with the glorious doctrines, holy 
 precepts, and precious promises of the sa- 
 cred word ; what an insight into the plan of 
 redemption, the fulness and grace of Christ, 
 the faithfulness of God's covenant, and the 
 glories of another world ; what spiritual life 
 and holy devotion and sacred joy would they 
 experience ; what support in sorrow and 
 what rich provision would they gather for 
 passing over Jordan. Antonio loved his 
 Bible ; it was his meditation by day and by 
 aight. When he came to die he rested upon 
 it ; and not wilhng even then to part with his 
 cherished treasure, he begged his Christian 
 brother to place it on his breast in his coffin 
 and let it go with him into the silence of the 
 grave. 
 
 Other Christians have loved the Scriptures, 
 
THE BOOK DIVINE. 213 
 
 and borne testimony to their power. "There 
 is no book in the universe," said the renown- 
 ed Selden, "upon which we can rest our souls 
 in a dying moment, but the Bible." " The 
 gospel," says Locke, " has God for its author, 
 salvation for its end, and truth without any 
 mixture of error for its matter." " I have led 
 but a lonely life," said the shepherd of Salis- 
 bury plain, "and often have but little to eat, 
 but my Bible has been meat, drink, and com- 
 pany to me ; and when want and trouble have 
 come upon me, I do n't know what I should 
 have done indeed, if I had not had the prom- 
 ises of this book for my stay and support." 
 A pious relative of the writer, who for many 
 years found her chief happiness in the truths 
 of God's word, when about to leave the world, 
 said to a Mend, "Bring me my precious Bi- 
 ble; it has been my comfort under all the 
 trials and sorrows of life : place it under my 
 head, and let it be my support in a dying 
 hour." 
 
 Bring me my Bible, book divine, 
 In it the Saviour's glories shine ; 
 Oft has it quelled my rising fears, 
 And wiped away my falling tears. 
 
214 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 From early youth to ripened age, 
 I 've loved to read its holy page ; 
 And still its promises impart 
 Rich consolation to my heart. 
 
 Now called to pass through death's dark shade, 
 
 On it I wish to lean my head ; 
 
 And free from sorrow and from care, 
 
 To breathe my soul out sweetly there. 
 
 If such be the value of the Bible, what ob- 
 ligations are we under to circulate it abroad, 
 that men may experience the benefits it prof- 
 fers. How adapted is it to elevate the tone 
 of public morals, to restrain the vicious, and 
 purify society. How wholesome the precepts 
 it inculcates and the prohibitions it utters in 
 counteracting those sinful practices that dis- 
 honor our country and expose it to the judg- 
 ments of God, and in promoting those virtues 
 that tend to national prosperity. What a 
 blessing is the Bible even in a temporal point 
 of view, by promoting industry, economy, in- 
 tegrity in business, harmony and friendship, 
 personal and domestic, and public peace and 
 tranquillity. But it brings infinitely greater 
 blessings. It comes to men as sinners, and 
 reveals a divine and all-sufficient Saviour, 
 
DUTY TO ROMANISTS. 215 
 
 one who is able and willing to save to the 
 uttermost all who come unto God by him. 
 It furnishes a remedy both to human guilt 
 and depravity, opens to the soul sources of 
 happiness adapted to its boundless desires 
 and immortal nature, and applies an anti- 
 dote to the ills and woes of our present im- 
 perfect condition. Patriotism and Christian 
 benevolence demand that the Bible be dis- 
 seminated throughout our land, that it be 
 read in the public schools, so that its influ- 
 ence may be felt upon the thousands of youth 
 who are to become the future citizens of the 
 nation ; and philanthropy and religion re- 
 quire that it be sent forth to enlighten the 
 dark places of the earth, and hasten the day 
 when "the earth shall be full of the know- 
 ledge of the Lord as the waters cover the 
 sea." 
 
 The conversion of Antonio also suggests 
 the claim of Roman-catholics upon our Chris- 
 tian sympathy, and the means of benefiting them. 
 
 He was himself a bigoted Maronite Cath- 
 olic, devoted to his own peculiar views and 
 filled with prejudice against all other sects ; 
 
216 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 ready to persecute those who differed from 
 him, and believing that salvation was con- 
 fined to the Eomish church, while all Prot- 
 estants were heretics, and as such would be 
 accursed. But what changed his views and 
 transformed his whole nature from that of a 
 blind and superstitious bigot to that of a 
 humble, intelligent, and devoted Christian? 
 The prayerful study of the Bible. This 
 taught him the errors of the church in which 
 he had been reared, led him to feel his re- 
 sponsibility for his belief, and to search for 
 the truth as revealed in the word of God. 
 The more he searched, the more he was con- 
 vinced of his personal guilt in the sight of 
 God, and the fearful delusion which had rest- 
 ed upon his mind. At length he came to Je- 
 sus ; and renouncing all righteousness of his 
 own, accepted him by faith, and became jus- 
 tified through the merits of Christ. He re- 
 fused any longer to follow the guidance of 
 priests — false teachers, as he called them — 
 who had cruelly withheld from the people the 
 word of God ; but sought the guidance of the 
 inspired volume. He absented himself from 
 the places of Catholic worship, and became 
 
DUTY TO ROMANISTS. 217 
 
 an avowed Protestant. The love of Christ 
 filled his heart, and he lived and died in the 
 faith of the gospel. If the reading of the 
 Bible was so beneficial to Antonio, why may 
 it not be so to the thousands and millions of 
 souls involved in the same superstition? The 
 Eomish church know that such would be the 
 effect, and therefore forbid the reading of the 
 Protestant Bible to those under her control; 
 consequently multitudes of intelligent and 
 immortal beings are kept in ignorance of the 
 truth, and know not the way of life. The 
 poorer class of that community are greatly 
 to be pitied, shut out as they are from all 
 opportunities of obtaining correct religious 
 knowledge. They dare not read the Bible; 
 they dare not enter a Protestant church, or 
 attend worship in a Protestant family, or re- 
 ceive a Protestant tract. Taught to believe 
 that their salvation or ruin is in the hands of 
 the priest, his power over them is absolute, 
 and they submit implicitly to his instructions 
 and commands. Thus they walk in dark- 
 ness in the midst of noonday light ; and while 
 in a gospel land, surrounded by all the means 
 of religious knowledge and improvement, 
 
218 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 they grope amid the gloom of moral mid- 
 night. 
 
 Let the condition of the Catholic world 
 awaken a deep interest to spread the light of 
 truth. Though it may be difficult to gain 
 access in general to those whose prejudices 
 are strongly arrayed against the Protestant 
 faith, yet there are instances when one and 
 another, like Antonio, have moral courage to 
 receive and read the Bible. Multitudes in 
 our own country have been induced by kind 
 and conciliatory treatment to accept both 
 books and oral instruction from those who 
 gave evidence of their desire to do them good. 
 In foreign lands wide fields of usefulness are 
 open. The people are seeking the light. 
 With the progress of civil liberty in Italy 
 and other countries, religious freedom also 
 advances ; and men, throwing off the tram- 
 mels of kingly power and priestly domina- 
 tion, are asking for the word of God. Let it 
 be sent forth to diffuse its influence among 
 the masses, and substitute an evangelical re- 
 ligion in the place of the lifeless forms and 
 unmeaning ceremonies of the papal church. 
 Then shall freedom of thought, of conscience, 
 
MISSIONARY SPIRIT. 219 
 
 • 
 
 and of speech prevail in the down-trodden 
 nations of Europe; and under the influence 
 of the Holy Spirit and a pure gospel, the 
 kingdom of Christ will triumph and God be 
 glorified. 
 
 The missionary spirit of our departed 
 brother also deserves our imitation. 
 
 It was like a fire burning in his bones, and 
 nothing but the interposing providence of 
 God, prostrating his strength and cutting 
 short his life, could deter him from carrying 
 out his cherished purpose. The cause of 
 missions, and his own anticipations of enter- 
 ing the field of labor, were a subject on which 
 he loved to think ; and when he thought of 
 it, it enkindled his soul with fervid emotion 
 and aroused all the enthusiasm of his nature. 
 Naturally of ardent temperament and ani- 
 mated manner, when his feelings became en- 
 listed in conversation upon his favorite and 
 interesting theme, he would break forth with 
 the fiery spirit of the Arab, and exhibit an 
 impetuosity of utterance and gesture that 
 was perfectly startling, and produced the 
 conviction that the sentiments he advocated 
 
220 A.NTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 came from the very depths of his heart. A 
 gentleman who was engaged as his teacher 
 when temporarily residing in New York, thus 
 vividly describes his anxiety to become a mis- 
 sionary, and his earnest and impassioned in- 
 terest in the subject of evangelizing his native 
 land. 
 
 " Hoping against hope, the young man 
 wished to prosecute his studies, wished to 
 return to preach Christ crucified to his own 
 kindred and nation. Unable longer to attend 
 
 school, Mr. H -, desiring to gratify his 
 
 mind, or possibly hoping himself for favora- 
 ble symptoms in the summer, employed the 
 present writer to give Antonio lessons at his 
 boarding-house. The writer has listened to 
 his late enthusiastic young friend as he ex- 
 patiated on the utter ignorance, superstition, 
 and degradation of the inhabitants of Asia 
 Minor ; has heard him denounce with all the 
 fervor of a fiery Arab the wrongs done to his 
 race by the bigoted Turk and still more wick- 
 ed Greek. His panacea for all the evils of his 
 fatherland was the gospel, the gospel, the gos- 
 pel. That, he said, would make them free, 
 enlightened, and happy. He was a perfect 
 
MISSIONARY SPIRIT. 221 
 
 enthusiast for the Saviour. On all other 
 subjects calm, cool, and collected; on this he 
 was strong, zealous, and dogmatic. 
 
 " When speaking of the missionary efforts 
 in Syria his eyes would gleam like fire, his 
 nostrils would dilate like those of a war- 
 horse when it snuffs the battle afar, his ut- 
 terance would become rapid and vehement, 
 and his whole form would expand until he 
 appeared much larger than he really was. 
 At such times he reminded one of Saladin 
 and Malek, the great conquerors who defied 
 all the attempts of the lion-hearted Richard 
 to recover the tomb of the Saviour." 
 
 Noble youth, how much of moral beauty 
 and grandeur marked his character ! "What 
 elevation of spirit ! And how distinguished 
 was he by those principles and virtues that 
 constitute real excellence — an enthusiast for 
 Christ, and burning with unquenchable zeal 
 to preach his gospel and bring souls to his 
 cross, that the Saviour might be glorified 
 and sinners be saved. 
 
 What an example to Christians of devo- 
 tion to the cause of missions, and how adapt- 
 ed to impress upon the minds of young men 
 
222 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 their obligation to make a personal consecra- 
 tion of themselves to the work of carrying 
 the gospel to the destitute and imevangelized 
 portions of the earth. 
 
 The field is the world, and God designs the 
 gospel to be proclaimed wherever human be- 
 ings are found. Millions are living in pagan 
 darkness amid the debasing practice of gross 
 idolatry and beastly vice, having no know- 
 ledge of the true God and only Saviour ; and 
 millions more, though nominally Christians, 
 are involved in the deepest error and super- 
 stition. Here and there through the vast 
 domain of heathenism a single missionary 
 lifts his feeble voice, or a little band of labor- 
 ers endeavor to make some impression on 
 the mighty bulwarks of Satan ; but what can 
 so few accomplish against the formidable ob- 
 stacles which stand in the way of evangeliz- 
 ing the world? To supply an amount of 
 labor adequate to the emergency, there ought 
 to be six hundred missionaries where there 
 is one. And the demand for additional help 
 is rendered daily more imperative by the 
 providence of God opening new doors of ac- 
 cess to nations hitherto closed against the 
 
MISSIONARY SPIRIT. 223 
 
 introduction of the gospel. The revolutions 
 of empires, the spread of civil liberty, the 
 progress of intelligence, and the operations 
 of the Spirit of God upon the hearts of men, 
 combine to awaken a desire to receive the 
 written and the preached word. Jehovah is 
 shaking the nations and preparing the world 
 for the universal dissemination of divine 
 truth. The fields are white for the harvest, 
 and laborers are needed to take the sickle 
 and gather the ripened grain. Oh that the 
 Lord of the harvest would send forth labor- 
 ers into his harvest. 
 
 Antonio gazed on these fields with intense 
 interest, and his heart panted with desire to 
 participate in the privilege of carrying home 
 the golden sheaves. Could we have seen 
 him, exiled from his father's house, forsaking 
 his kindred and country, and coming to a 
 strange land — could we have seen him, with 
 an emaciated form and hectic fever and 
 hoarse cough, still plying his books, and 
 hoping against hope, striving to surmount 
 every obstacle, that he might carry the news 
 of salvation to his own people, we should 
 have been rebuked for our apathy, and in- 
 
224 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 cited, it may be, to a loftier sense of Christian 
 obligation. 
 
 He was a missionary in spirit, if not in 
 actual service: he had all the qualities of 
 one — a heart glowing with love and zeal, an 
 entire consecration to his Master's canse, 
 and a readiness to live or to die for Him. 
 His name may well be inscribed on the same 
 roll with Martyn and Swartz and Abeel and 
 Pohlman and others who went forth to 
 preach the gospel, and who died in the ser- 
 vice of their divine Master. His heart was 
 in unison with theirs, and had the Master 
 permitted his work, he would have been alike 
 faithful. 
 
 Christian young men, though Antonio be 
 dead, he yet speaks, and eloquently appeals 
 to you in behalf of a cause that to him was 
 transcendently great and inspiring. That 
 cause needs the personal consecration and 
 efforts of young men of piety and intelligence, 
 who are willing to forego the gratifications 
 and comforts of home, and to go to labor and 
 die, if needs be, in foreign lands as ambassa- 
 dors of the cross. 
 
 We admire the self-denial and valor with 
 
MISSIONARY SPIRIT. 225 
 
 which the youth of our country have left 
 their homes and rushed to save the nation 
 from impending ruin; but while ready thus 
 to brave danger, suffering, and death in the 
 cause of patriotism, will they not be willing 
 to enlist in the service of Christ, and enter- 
 ing the enemy's territory with the sword of 
 truth, endeavor to bring a rebellious world 
 into subjection to the authority of Zion's 
 King ? 
 
 By the love of that divine Missionary who, 
 sent by the Father, came from heaven to 
 earth and proclaimed the glad tidings of great 
 joy to our sinful race; by the value of mill- 
 ions of immortal beings now ignorant of the 
 only way of salvation ; by the woes and deg- 
 radation of pagan lands, where idolatry and 
 superstition and the grossest vice prevail ; by 
 the honor and authority of that Redeemer 
 who has intrusted us with his gospel, with 
 the commission to preach it to all nations; 
 and by the present and everlasting joy of 
 myriads who might be gathered into the fold 
 of Christ, were they told the story of his suf- 
 ferings and death, be entreated to give the 
 subject your calm and prayerful consider a- 
 
 Bishallany. 15 
 
226 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 tion, and decide whether your duty is not to 
 occupy some point in the wide field of foreign 
 destitution, either in the heathen world or 
 the unevangelized nations of Europe, Asia, 
 or South America, and become the centre of 
 an influence that will be benign and saving 
 upon vast regions now unblest. 
 
 Would that Christians longed as did An- 
 tonio for the spread of the gospel over the 
 benighted nations of the earth. He believed 
 there was a power in it to renew and sanctify 
 the heart, to curb the passions and lusts of 
 men, and change even a polluted, stupid, and 
 cruel pagan into an humble child of God; 
 and he believed that if the truths of the 
 Bible, either preached or read, were brought 
 to the knowledge of his own people, they 
 would become like himself, evangelical Chris- 
 tians — the children of God by faith in Christ 
 Jesus. The prayers he offered for Syria are 
 being answered. The morning star is shin- 
 ing upon that land, and we trust the Sun of 
 righteousness will arise. Through the labors 
 of Messrs. Smith, Thompson, Whiting, Cal- 
 houn, and other faithful missionaries, the 
 gospel is disseminated, and is producing its 
 
MISSIONARY SPIRIT. 227 
 
 saving fruits. The Bible has been printed 
 and published in the Arabic language, and is 
 making progress among the people ; churches 
 have been organized, native converts are co- 
 operating in efforts to promote the cause of 
 the Redeemer, and the Lord is smiling upon 
 the good work. 
 
 Who is there that has been convinced of 
 the divine origin of the gospel, of its delight- 
 ful nature and peaceful tendency — who is 
 there that has ever felt its transforming 
 power on his own soul, but will sincerely de- 
 sire and earnestly pray and faithfully labor 
 that its glad tidings may be proclaimed to 
 all nations, and that under its benign influ- 
 ence this sin-stricken world may be redeem- 
 ed from the curse, and become beautiful as 
 Eden, and pleasant as the garden of the 
 Lord. 
 
228 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 SCKIPTURE SELECTIONS BY 
 ANTONIO. 
 
 Among: the papers left by Antonio, was a 
 manuscript containing, in his own hand- 
 writing, numerous passages of Scripture. 
 We select a few of them, from which it is 
 evident that he regarded the word of God as 
 the only rule of faith and practice, and con- 
 sidered the errors that prevail as resulting 
 from following false teachers instead of di- 
 vine revelation. 
 
 " Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try 
 the spirits whether they are of God : because 
 many false prophets are gone out into the 
 world." 1 John 4:1. 
 
 " For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God 
 of Israel: Let not your prophets and your 
 diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive 
 you, neither hearken to your dreams which 
 ye cause to be dreamed." Jer. 29 : 8. 
 
 " Then the Lord said unto me, The proph- 
 ets prophesy lies in my name : I sent them 
 not, neither have I commanded them, neither 
 
SCRIPTURE SELECTIONS. 2^9 
 
 spake unto theni : they prophesy unto you a 
 false vision and divination, and a thing of 
 naught, and the deceit of their heart." Jer. 
 14 : 14. 
 
 "For many shall come in my name, say- 
 ing, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 
 And many false prophets shall rise, and de- 
 ceive many." Matt. 24 : 5, 11. 
 
 " Beware of false prophets, which come to 
 you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they 
 are ravening wolves." Matt. 7 : 15. 
 
 " Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that 
 in the latter times some shall depart from the 
 faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and 
 doctrines of devils ; 
 
 "Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their 
 conscience seared with a hot iron ; 
 
 "Forbidding to marry, and commanding 
 to abstain from meats, which God hath cre- 
 ated to be received with thanksgiving." 
 1 Tim. 4 : 1-3. 
 
 " For it is sanctified by the word of God 
 and prayer." 1 Tim. 4 : 5. 
 
 " Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is 
 come, he will guide you into all truth : for he 
 shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever 
 
230 ANTONIO BISHALLANT. 
 
 he shall hear, that shall he speak : and he 
 will show you things to come." John 16 : 13. 
 
 "But the Comforter, which is the Holy 
 Ghost, whom the Father will send in my 
 name, he shall teach you all things, and 
 bring all things to your remembrance. John 
 14 : 26. 
 
 "But evil men and seducers shall wax 
 worse and worse, deceiving, and being de- 
 ceived." 2 Tim. 3 : 13. 
 
 "But continue thou in the things which 
 thou hast learned and hast been assured of, 
 knowing of whom thou hast learned them." 
 2 Tim. 3 : 14. 
 
 " But there were false prophets also among 
 the people, even as there shall be false 
 teachers among you, who privily shall bring 
 in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord 
 that bought them, and bring upon themselves 
 swift destruction." 2 Pet. 2 : 1. 
 
 "Be not carried about with divers and 
 strange doctrines : for it is a good thing 
 that the heart be established with grace ; not 
 with meats, which have not profited them 
 that have been occupied therein." Hebrews 
 13:9. 
 
SCRIPTURE SELECTIONS. 231 
 
 " That we henceforth be no more children, 
 tossed to and fro, and carried about with ev- 
 ery wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, 
 and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in 
 wait to deceive." Eph. 4 : 14. 
 
 "For they that are such serve not our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly ; and 
 by good words and fair speeches deceive the 
 hearts of the simple." Rom. 16 : 18. 
 
 "But unto them which are called, both 
 Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, 
 and the wisdom of God." 1 Cor. 1 : 24. 
 
 " For I am not ashamed of the gospel of 
 Christ : for it is the power of God unto sal- 
 vation to every one that believeth." Eom. 
 1:16. 
 
 " In whom are hid all the treasures of wis- 
 dom and knowledge." Col. 2 : 3. 
 
 " Come unto me, all ye that labor and are 
 heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 
 11 : 28. 
 
 " Take my yoke upon you, and learn of 
 me ; for I am meek and lowly in heart : and 
 ye shall find rest unto your souls." Matt. 
 11 : 29. 
 
 "Thus said the Lord, Stand ye in the 
 
232 ANTONIO BISHALLANY. 
 
 ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, 
 where is the good way, and walk therein, 
 and ye shall find rest for your souls. But 
 they said, We will not walk therein." Jer. 
 6:16. 
 
 " And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter, 
 and upon this rock I will build my church ; 
 and the gates of hell shall not prevail against 
 it." Matt. 16 : 18. 
 
 " Wisdom is better than rubies, and all the 
 things that may be desired are not to be 
 compared to it." " Whoso findeth me find- 
 eth life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord." 
 Prov. 8 : 11, 35. 
 
 " But he that sinneth against me wrongeth 
 his own soul. All they that hate me love 
 death." Prov. 11 : 36. 
 
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