time, an order was issued to prevent the men from attending worship, but was afterwards followed by one of a milder

nature.

In July,* when Mr. C. was about to depart, the dark cloud was disappearing, and the scene was beginning again to brighten. At this time he writes thus:

Cutwa, July, 1810.

"On the first Sabbath in this month I baptized four persons on a profession of faith, who were, received into the church in the afternoon, when the Lord's supper was administered. In the course of the week, two brethren were chosen as elders, to watch over the church. We left the church in more comfortable circumstances than might have been expected, considering the great trials which they have lately endured. A few more remain on the hopeful inquiry; and though the congregation is much decreased, yet it is still numerous on the Lord's day evenings."

The next time he paid them an occasional visit, he found that they were under orders to leave this station, as may be seen from the following letter.

Berhampore, August 7th, 1810. "It is quite providential that I am here to take my farewell of my dear brethren. You have been informed, that the 22nd Regiment is under orders to leave this place for the Presidency; and thence it is expected to be ordered on some expedition. I knew nothing of these orders when I left Rehoboth, and was greatly astonished to find the boats prepared on

* During the month of May this year, he mentions in his journal the occurrence of several earthquakes. "On Lord's day evening, we had a very alarming earthquake here, attended with a noise similar to the rattling of two or three coaches at a distance. It continued for a minute or more. The wall of Kangalee's new house was cracked by it, and in the town one house was thrown down, if not more: but I have not heard of any further accident. This is the third or fourth earthquake which has been perceived here within the last four months. The natives are alarmed, and the Brahmuns foretel others to come very soon; but none give glory to the living God."

my arrival. Last evening we met at the bungalow, and commemorated the dying love of our Lord Jesus, in which, probably, we have taken a farewell of uniting together in the enjoyment of Christian ordinances in this world. I shall greatly feel my loss, but I hope that God will bless his people. The great Shepherd of his sheep will not lose them for want of shepherding, and to his care I commit them.

"I shall wish to accompany my dear friends to Calcutta, and to take my final farewell of them there. The Regiment embarks to-day, and will leave this place to-morrow morning. I intend leaving Berhampore this afternoon, so as to leave Rehoboth on Wednesday or Thursday; and on Friday or Saturday I hope to see you. I think that my dear Mary and her family will accompany me, but we shall not make a long stay."

Mr. C. accompanied the regiment down to Calcutta, and arrived in time to unite with them in the exercises of divine worship on the Sabbath day; at which time one person was baptized, and the ordinance of the Lord supper was administered. The scene is thus described by one who was present.

"After morning worship, brother Chamberlaim administered the Lord's supper to his brethren of the 22nd Regiment, for the last time. The services of God's house were particularly enlivened this day by the presence of so many persons converted to God from the ranks of the army. Is any thing too hard for the Lord?"

As soon as the brethren of the 22nd Regiment arrived at Calcutta, prior to their embarking for the Isle of France, they began to reflect on the means of enjoying the word and ordinances, when they should be separated from their pastor, Mr. Chamberlain. After solemn prayer, and consultation with their more aged brethren, they chose for their pastor one of their own number, with whose piety and gifts they were well acquainted, and two others as assistant elders, in case of accident; and thus organized the church within themselves.

The church consisted of between thirty and forty members in full communion, many of whom were steady, judicious

men, well acquainted with the Scriptures. While at Berhampore, after forming themselves into a church, they instituted a school, which they conducted gratis, and in which not only were all the children of the regiment instructed, whose parents could be brought to send them, but a great number of their adult countrymen were taught to read the Word of God, to some of whom it proved the means of conversion, while the school was the means of building up others in Christian knowledge; for many, after doing their daily duty, chose to spend the rest of the day there in receiving and communicating knowledge, in preference to exposing themselves to danger in scenes of dissipation, or wasting their time in unprofitable idleness. All the expense, too, of the school, the brethren defrayed themselves, besides giving their labour gratis. Nor were these the only fruits of grace which they shewed: in addition to nearly one hundred pounds, which they laid out in the space of two years in Bibles, hymn-books, and other books calculated to promote the life of religion in the soul, (of which they formed a common library,) they collected and sent down a considerable sum, as a present to the Mission.

Before quitting Calcutta, the soldiers addressed the following pleasing letter to all the brethren, acknowledging their great obligations for the care that had been bestowed upon them.

September, 1810.

"It has pleased our Heavenly Father, in his wise dispensations, to call us from you on military duty.

“We have reason, in a peculiar manner, to be thankful for the many benefits we have received since it has pleased the Bishop of our souls to place us under the ministry of the brethren, which has been wonderfully blessed among us; particularly the incessant labours of our dear pastor in the Lord, brother Chamberlain.

"The thought of parting with you, dear brethren, is very painful to us, when we consider the mutual love that has subsisted betwixt us. What consolation in Christ! What comfort of love! What fellowship of the spirit! What bowels

of compassion! Oh! often have our hearts glowed with that love which surpasseth all understanding.

"Dear brethren! what shall we say? We cannot find words to express our feelings of love and gratitude towards

you.

Pray for us, that we may stand fast in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, whether life or death, prosperity or adversity, darkness or light, awaits us, we may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Dear brethren, we now conclude with the ardent desire of our souls, that the love and fellowship of the blessed and glorious Trinity may rest upon you."

(Signed by thirty names.)

Thus closed Mr. C.'s connection with the church in the army; and from a review of his conduct towards the members, and his labours for their edification, we conceive that he might, with much propriety, adopt the language of the apostle, and say: "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

CHAP. VIII.

His Removal from Cutwa-his Journey to Agra-Engagements and Prospects of Usefulness there—his Domestic Afflictions— and his Return to Calcutta.

THE most important events in life often take their rise from incidents which, at the time, appear of no great consequence. Mr. Chamberlain little thought that his journey down to Calcutta with his friends in the 22nd Regiment would open a way for his removal from his beloved Rehoboth, and turn his exertions completely into a new channel. Yet such was the result; for while he was at Serampore on his return home, a new plan was proposed to his attention, which ultimately gained his consent, and was the cause of his removing from Cutwa to Agra. We do not wonder, with the ardent feelings he possessed for the spread of the gospel among the heathen, and with the conviction he had in his own mind, that he was designed by divine Providence to be a sort of pioneer in this work, that he should be led to approve a scheme, which proposed to extend the knowledge of the word of life, and render the translations of it more intelligible to thousands for whose benefit they were designed. The two distinctive features of the plan proposed, were the extension of the gospel, and the improvement of the translations of the Scriptures made for the Upper Provinces. The Baptist Missionary Society at the time had no station beyond Digah; and it was considered necessary that its operations should be extended, in order that the translations already made of the Scriptures into the languages of the Upper Provinces, might be distributed and improved.

The first part of this design would admit of much being said, both for it and against it. There can be no doubt but that it is the duty of Missionaries and Missionary Societies, by every proper means, to spread the gospel; but whether it is right to remove a man from a sphere of usefulness, that he may have the honour of triumphing over new difficulties,