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other unpleasant alternative of acknowledging themselves unable to decide the point. And, at page 9, he tells them that "it would have been their wisest course to have cancelled their Resolution, especially after such ample evidence was adduced for 'Shin,' and to have decided at once for this term." "For," says he, "the advocates of 'Shin' had certainly a right to look for this"; but that, on the contrary, "they and their friends were astonished to see the Bible Society still halting between two opinions" (poor limping Body!), "in the face of so much evidence," etc.
Why the Bible Society should "decide at once," to please the advocates of "Shin," in particular, may not appear quite so clear to others as it does to the "life-member." But he must have probed the subject thoroughly. For, with more assurance, perhaps, than charity (page 9), he "thinks the case is now plain enough for any serious-minded, sensible Christian, who is willing to be guided by the Word and Spirit of God, to form a sound judgment in this important matter";—a consoling thought, assuredly, for any one who may venture to differ. So that now, whosoever advocates "Shang-Te" instead of "Shin," whether in Pe-tche-li or on the banks of the Thames, may know, that he can lay no claim to being thought either "serious-minded" in his research, "sensible" in his opinion, or "willing to be guided by the Word and Spirit of God" in his decision;—if, indeed, he is not altogether wanting in conscientious feeling. For,
