member that previous to the outpouring of | comfort him, and at last prevailed upon the Spirit in the days of Pentecost, the him to come and sit down upon the verandisciples continued with one accord in dah. Here he began to weep again; and prayer and supplication."" - Bapt. Miss. said that the young man's mother was dyPref. Vol. III. p. 7. ing with grief."—Ibid. p. 43.

"This evening Buxoo, a brother, who is

What this success is, we shall see by servant with us, and Soroop, went to a the following extract:

"The whole number baptized in Bengal since the year 1795 is forty-eight. Over many of these we rejoice with great joy; for others we tremble; and over some we are compelled to weep."-Bapt. Miss. Vol. III. pp. 21, 22.

Hatred to the Gospel.

"April 2. This morning, several of our chief printing servants presented a petition, desiring they might have some relief, as they were compelled, in our Bengalee worship, to hear so many blasphemies against their gods! Brother Carey and I had a strong contention with them in the printing-office, and invited them to argue the pint with Petumber, as his sermon had ven them offence; but they declined it; though we told them that they were ten, and he was only one; that they were Brahmas, and he was only a sooder!"-Ibid.

"The enmity against the gospel and its professors is universal. One of our baptzed Hindoos wanted to rent a house: after ging out two or three days, and wandering al the town over, he at last persuaded a woman to let him have a house: but though she was herself a Feringa, yet when she heard that he was a Brahman who had become a Christian, she insulted him, and we hin away; so that we are indeed made the offscouring of all things."-Ibid.

market in the neighbourhood, where they were discovered to be Yesoo Khreestare

Loke (Jesus Christ's people). The whole market was all in a hubbub; they clapped their hands, and threw dust at them. Buxoo was changing a rupee for cowries, when the disturbance began; and in the scuffle the man ran away with the rupee without giving the cowries."-Ibid. p. 55.

"Nov. 34. This day Hawnye and Ram Khunt returned from their village. They relate that our Brother Fotick, who lives in the same village, was lately seized by the chief Bengalee man there; dragged from his house; his face, eyes, and ears clogged with cow-dung-his hands tied, and in this state confined several hours. They also tore to pieces all the papers, and the copy of the Testament, which they found in Fotick's house. A relation of these persecutors being dead, they did not molest Hawnye and Ram Khunt; but the townsfolk would not hear about the gospel: they only insulted them for becoming Christians."Ibid. p. 57.

"Cutwa on the Ganges, Sept. 3, 1804. This place is about seventy miles from Serampore, by the Hoogley river. Here I have procured a spot of ground, perhaps about two acres, pleasantly situated by two tanks, and a fine grove of mango trees, at a small distance from the town. It was with difficulty I procured a spot. I was forced to leave one, after I had made a beginning, through the violent opposition of the people. Coming to this, opposition ceased; and, therefore, I called it REHO. BOTH; for Jehovah hath made room for us. Here I have raised a spacious bungalow."-Ibid. p. 59.

It would perhaps be more prudent to leave the question of sending missions to India to the effect of these extracts, which appear to us to be quite decisive, both as to the danger of insur

*I was sitting among our native brethren, at the Bengalee school, hearing them read and explain a portion of the word in turn, when an azed, grey-headed Brahman, welldressed, came in; and, standing before me, ed, with joined hands, and a supplicating tone of voice, Sahib! I am come to ask an alms, Beginning to weep, he repeated these wor is hastily; I am come to ask an ... an aims. He continued standing, with Es hands in a supplicating posture, weep-rection from the prosecution of the . I desired him to say what alms; and that him, that by his looks, it did not seem if he wanted any relief. At length, being pressed, he asked me to give him his son pointing with his hand into the midst

of our native brethren. I asked which was

his He pointed to a young Brahman, mamed Soroop; and setting up a plaintive cry, sand, that was his son. We tried to VOL. I.

scheme, the utter unfitness of the persons employed in it, and the complete hopelessness of the attempt while pursued under such circumstances as now exist. But, as the Evangelical party who have got possession of our Eastern empire have brought forward a great deal of argument upon the question, it Ι

period of the mutiny at Vellore, and a | Government press free of expense. On his few years previous to it, that the num-return, we consulted with our two brethren ber of the missionaries on the coast had on the subject, and resolved to accept the been increased. Doctor's favour. We have begun to preIn 1804, the Missionary Society, a recent institution, pare it for the press."-Trans. of Miss. Society, Vol. II. p. 394. sent a new mission to the coast of Coromandel; from whose papers, we think it right to lay before our readers the following extracts*: —

66

March 31st, 1805. Waited on A.B. He says, Government seems to be very willing to forward our views. We may stay at Madras as long as we please; and when we intend to go into the country, on our application to the governor by letter, he would issue orders for granting us pass

ports, which would supersede the necessity of a public petition.-Lord's Day."-Trans. of Miss. Society, Vol. II. p. 365.

In a letter from Brother Ringletaube to Brother Cran, he thus expresses himself:

"The passports Government has promised you are so valuable, that I should not think a journey too troublesome to obtain one for myself, if I could not get it through your interference. In hopes that your application will suffice to obtain one for me, I enclose you my Gravesend passport, that will give you the particulars concerning my person." -Trans. of Miss. Society, Vol. II. p. 369.

They obtain their passports from Government; and the plan and objects of their mission are printed, free of expense, at the Government press.

"1805. June 27. Dr.

-sent for one of us to consult with him on particular business. He accordingly went. The Doctor told him that he had read the publications which the brethren lately brought from England, and was so much delighted with the report of the Directors, that he wished 200 or more copies of it were printed, together with an introduction, giving an account of the rise and progress of the Missionary Society, in order to be distributed in the different settlements in India. He offered to print them at the

There are six societies in England for converting Heathens to the Christian religion. 1. Society for Missions to Africa and the East of which Messrs. Wilberforce, Grant, Perry, and Thorntons, are the principal encouragers. 2. Methodist Society for Missions. 3. Anabaptist Society for Missions. 4. Missionary Society. 5. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. 6. Moravian Missions. They all publish their proceedings.

In page 89. of the 18th Number, Vol. III., the missionaries write thus to the Society in London, about a fortnight before the massacre at Vellore:

"Every encouragement is offered us by Hitherto they have granted us every rethe established government of the country. quest, whether solicited by ourselves or others. Their permission to come to this

place; their allowing us an acknowledg ment for preaching in the fort, which sanctions us in our work, together with the grant which they have lately given us to hold a large spot of ground every way suited for missionary labours, are objects of the last importance, and remove every impediment which might be apprehended from this source.

We trust not to an arm of

flesh; but when we reflect on these things,
of the Lord."
we cannot but behold the loving-kindness

In a letter of the same date, we learn, from Brother Ringletaube, the following fact:

The Dewan of Travancore sent me word. that if I despatched one of our Christians to him, he would give me leave to build a church at Magilandy. Accordingly, I shall send in a short time. For this important service, our Society is indebted alone to Colonel -, without whose determined and fearless interposition, none of their missionaries would have been able to set a foot in that country."

In page 381. Vol. II., Dr. Kerr, one of the chaplains on the Madras establishment, baptizes a Mussulman who had applied to him for that purpose: upon the first application, it appears that Dr. Kerr hesitated; but upon the Mussulman threatening to rise against him on the day of judgment, Dr. Kerr complies.

It appears that in the Tinevelly district, about a year before the massacre of Vellore, not only riots, but very serious persecutions of the converted natives had taken place, from the jealousy evinced by the Hindoos and Mussulmen at the progress of the Gospel.

rapatuam has informed me, that the above Manikar has forced a Christian, of the Villally caste, who attends at our church, to sweep the temple of the Idol. A severe flogging was given on this occasion.'-From such facts, the postscript continues, 'You may guess at the deplorable situation of our fellow-believers, as long as every Manikar thinks he has a right to do them what violence he pleases.'

"Rev. Sir,-I thought you sufficiently acquainted with the late vexations of the Christians in those parts, arising from the blind zeal of the Heathen and Mahometans; the latter viewing with a jealous eye the progress of the gospel, and trying to destroy, or at least to clog it, by all the crafty means in their power. I therefore did not choose to trouble you; but as no stop has been put to those grievances, things go on from bad to worse, as you will see from what has "It must be observed, to the glory of happened at Hickadoe. The Catechist has that Saviour who is strong in weakness, providentially escaped from that out- that many of the Neophytes in that district rageous attempt, by the assistance of ten have withstood all these fiery trials with or twelve of our Christians, and has made firmness. Many also, it is to be lamented, good his flight to Palamcotta; whilst the have fallen off in the evil day, and at least exasperated mob, coming from Padecke- so far yielded to the importunity of their palloe, hovered round the village, plunder- persecutors, as again to daub their faces ing the houses of the Christians, and ill- and bodies with paint and ashes, after the treating their families, by kicking, flogging, manner of the Heathen. How great this and other bad usage; these monsters not falling off has been, I am not yet able to even forbearing to attack, strip, rob, and judge. But I am happy to add, that the miserably beat the Catechist Jesuadian, Board of Revenue has issued the strictest who, partly from illness and partly through orders against all unprovoked persecution." fear, had shut himself up in his house. I-Trans. of Miss. Society, Vol. II. pp. 431have heard various accounts of this sad event; but yesterday the Catechist himself called on me, and told me the truth of it. From what he says, it is plain that the Manikar of Wayrom (a black peace-officer of that place) has contrived the whole affair, with a view to vex the Christians. I doubt not that these facts have been reported to the Rev. Mr. K. by the countrypriest; and if I mention them to you, it is with a view to show in what a forlorn state the poor Christians hereabout are, and how desirable a thing it would be, if the Rev. Mr. Ringletaube were to come hither as soon as possible; then tranquillity would be restored, and future molestations prevented. I request you to communicate this letter to him with my compliments. I am, Sir, &c. Manapaar, June 8, 1805.'

433.

The following quotations evince how far from indifferent the natives are to the progress of the Christian religion in the East:

"1805. Oct. 10. A respectable Brahman in the Company's employ called on us. We endeavoured to point out to him the important object of our coming to India, and mentioned some of the great and glorious truths of the gospel, which we wished to impart in the native language. He seemed much hurt, and told us the Gentoo religion was of a divine origin, as well as the Christian;-that heaven was like a palace which has many doors, at which people may enter;-that variety is pleasing to God, &c.-and a number of other arguments which we hear every day. On taking leave, he said, 'The Company has got the country (for the English are very clever), and perhaps, they may succeed in depriving the Brahmans of their power, and let you have it.'

"This letter left a deep impression on my mind, especially when I received a faller account of the troubles of the Christians. By the Black underlings of the collectors, they are frequently driven from their homes, put in the stocks, and exposed for a fortnight together to the heat of the razing sun, and the chilling dews of the night, all because there is no European Missionary to bring their complaints to the ear of Government, who, I am happy to add, have never been deficient in their duty of procuring redress, where the Christians have had to complain of real injuries. One of the most trying cases mentioned in a postscript of the above letter, is that of Christians being flogged till they consent "While living in the town, our house was to hold the torches to the Heathen Idols. watched by the natives from morning to The letter says, 'The Catechist of Collesig-night, to see if any persons came to converse

"November 16th. Received a letter from the Rev. Dr. Taylor; we are happy to find he is safely arrived at Calcutta, and that our Baptist brethren are labouring with increasing success. The natives around us are astonished to hear this news. It is bad news to the Brahmans, who seem unable to account for it. They say the world is going to ruin.” — Trans. of Miss. Society, Vol. II. pp. 442 and 446.

about religion. This prevented many from coming, who have been very desirous of hearing of the good way."-Trans. of Miss. Society, No. 18. p. 87.

"If Heathen, of great influence and connections, or Brahmans, were inclined to join the Christian Church, it would probably cause commotions, and even rebellions, either to prevent them from it, or to endanger their life. In former years, we had some instances of this kind at Tranquebar; where they were protected by the assistance of Government. If such instances should happen now in our present times, we don't know what the consequence would be." -Trans. of Miss. Society, Vol. II. p. 185.

This last extract is contained in a letter from Danish Missionaries at Tranquebar to the Directors of the Missionary Society in London.

the missions in Bengal, of which the public have heard so much of late years, are the missions of Anabaptist dissenters, whose peculiar and distinguishing tenet it is to baptize the members of their church by plunging them into the water when they are grown up, instead of sprinkling them with water when they are young. Among the subscribers to this society, we perceive the respectable name of the DeputyChairman of the East India Company, who, in the common routine of office, will succeed to the Chair of that Company at the ensuing election. Chairman and the Deputy-Chairman of the East India Company are also both of them trustees to another religious society for missions to Africa and the East.

The

It is hardly fair to contend, after these extracts, that no symptoms of The first Number of the Anabaptist jealousy upon the subject of religion Missions informs us that the origin of had been evinced on the coast, except the Society will be found in the workings in the case of the insurrection at of Brother Carey's mind, whose heart Vellore; or that no greater activity appears to have been set upon the conver than common had prevailed among the sion of the Heathen in 1786, before he missionaries. We are very far, how-came to reside at Moulton. (No. I. p. 1.) ever, from attributing that insurrection exclusively, or even principally, to any apprehensions from the zeal of the missionaries. The rumour of that zeal might probably have more readily disposed the minds of the troops for the corrupt influence exercised upon them; but we have no doubt that the massacre was principally owing to an adroit use made by the sons of Tippoo, and the high Mussulmen living in the fortress, of the abominable military foppery of our own people.

After this short sketch of what has been lately passing on the coast, we shall attempt to give a similar account of missionary proceedings in Bengal and it appears to us, it will be more satisfactory to do so as much as possible in the words of the missionaries themselves. In our extracts from their publications, we shall endeavour to show the character and style of the men employed in these missions, the extent of their success, or rather of their failure, and the general impression made upon the people by their efforts for the dissemination of the gospel.

It will be necessary to premise, that

These workings produced a sermon at Northampton, and the sermon a subscription to convert 420 millions of Pagans. Of the subscription we have the following account :-" Information is come from Brother Carey, that a gentleman from Northumberland had promised to send him 20l. for the Society, and to subscribe four guineas annually."

other friends subscribed, and paid two "At this meeting at Northampton two guineas apiece, two more one guinea each, and another half a guinea, making six guineas and a half in all. And such members as were present of the first subscribers paid their subscriptions into the hands of the treasurer, who proposed to put the sum who will pay interest for the same.”—Bap now received into the hands of a banker, tist Miss. Soc. No. I. p. 5.

In their first proceedings 'they are a good deal guided by Brother Thomas, who has been in Bengal before, and who lays before the Society a history of his life and adventures, from which we make the following extract :

"On my arrival in Calcutta, I sought for religious people, but found none. At last

how was I rejoiced to hear that a very religous man was coming to dine with me at a house in Calcutta; a man who would not omit his closet hours, of a morning or even

inexpressible mortification, that Ram Ram had relapsed into Paganism: and we shall present our readers with a picture of the present and worldly misery to which a Hindoo is subjected, who becomes a convert to the Christian religion. Everybody knows, that the population of Hindostan is divided into castes, or classes of persons; and that when a man loses his caste, he is shunned by his wife, children, friends, and relations: that it is considered as an abomination to lodge or eat with him; and that he is a wanderer and an outcast

ing, at sea or on land, for all the world. I concealed my impatience as well as I could till the joyful moment came: and a moment it was, for I soon heard him take the Lord's name in vain, and it was like a cold dagger, with which I received repeated stabs in the course of half an hour's conversation; and he was ready to kick me when I spoke of some things commonly believed by other hypocrites, concerning our Lord Jesus Christ; and with fury put an end to our conversation, by saying I was a mad enthusiast to suppose that Jesus Christ had any-upon the earth. Caste can be lost by thing to do in the creation of the world, who a variety of means, and the Protestant was born only seventeen hundred years missionaries have always made the loss agn. When I returned, he went home in of it a previous requisite to admission the same ship, and I found him a strict into the Christian church. observer of devotional hours, but an enemy to all religion, and horribly loose, "On our arrival at Calcutta, we found vain and intemperate in his life and conver-poor Ram Boshoo waiting for us; but, to "After this, I advertised for a Christian; to idols again. When Mr. T. left India, he our great grief, he has been bowing down and that I may not be misunderstood, I went from place to place; but, forsaken by shail subjoin a copy of the advertisement, the Hindoos, and neglected by the Eurofrom the Indian Gazette of November 1.peans, he was seized with a flux and fever. 1783, which now lies before me."-Baptist In this state he says, 'I had nothing to Miss. Soc. No. I. pp. 14, 15.

sation.

Brother Thomas relates the Conversion of a Hindoo on the Malabar Coast to the Society.

“A certain man, on the Malabar coast, had inquired of various devotees and priests how he might make atonement for his sins; and at last he was directed to drive iron spikes, sufficiently blunted, through his sandals, and on these spikes he was to place his naked feet, and walk (if I mistake not) 250 cos, that is, about 480 miles. If, through ss of blood, or weakness of body, he was obliged to halt, he might wait for healing and strength. He undertook the journey; and while he halted under a large shady tree where the gospel was sometimes preached, one of the missionaries came, and preached in his hearing from these words, The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin. While he was preaching, the man rose up, threw off his torturing sandals, and cried out aloud,' This is what I want!"-Baptist Miss. Soc. No. I. p. 29.

On June 13. 1793, the missionaries set sail, carrying with them letters to three supposed converts of Brother Thomas, Parbottee, Ram Ram Boshoo, and Mohun Chund. Upon their arrival in India, they found, to their

support me or my family; a relation of necessaries on condition of my bowing offered to save me from perishing for want to the idol; I knew that the Roman Catholic Christians worshipped idols; I thought images in some part of the Bible which I they might be commanded to honour had not seen; I hesitated, and complied; but I love Christianity still.”—Bapt. Miss. Soc. Vol. I. pp. 64, 65.

"Jan. 8. 1794. We thought to write you long before this, but our hearts have been burthened with cares and sorrows. It was very afflicting to hear of Ram Boshoo's great persecution and fall. Deserted by Englishmen, and persecuted by his own countrymen, he was nigh unto death. The natives gathered in bodies, and threw dust in the air as he passed along the streets in Calcutta. At last one of his relations offered him an asylum on condition of his bowing down to their idols."—Bapt. Miss. Soc. Vol. I. p. 78.

Brother Carey's Piety at Sea.

"Brother Carey, while very sea-sick, and leaning over the ship to relieve his stomach his mind was even then filled with confrom that very oppressive complaint, said solation in contemplating the wonderful goodness of God."-Bapt. Miss. Soc. Vol. I. p. 76.