Page images
PDF
EPUB

Christ's sake well. My pundit is remarkably changed, but I fear not converted. One European constantly attends worship morning and evening, and I trust that he is a vessel of mercy preparing for glory."

Sirdhana, November 16, 1813.

"From these regions of the shadow of death I have little to send to you that is encouraging; though in some respects things now wear a reviving aspect. Two Roman Catholics attend with us at worship, and a number of the Zumindars, who are here on business, come to hear the word. About twelve persons have been with me to-day. They come from a distance; so that when they return, they will take the news to their families and friends."

[ocr errors]

Sirdhana, November 30, 1813.

Things have lately revived among us. Many have been to hear the word; some books have been given away; a new school has been established, which contains 20 children or more; and two or three are on the inquiry respecting the truth of the religion of Jesus. I am much engaged from morning till night at home, and have no leisure to go out amongst the people but my Hindoo writer is constantly engaged in the evening in reading to the people the word of God. Whether he is converted or not, I cannot say ; but I wait to see what God will make him appear to be. Two of the country Christians constantly come to worship, and I hope that another will forthwith attend. One of these men can read very well, and he is much employed in reading to his family; but the Roman Catholics despise him on this account, and will not go near him now: however, we hope that they will not always remain in this manner, under the power of prejudice. In the wars of Mansoul, Prejudice will some day get his wounds, and be disabled from preventing good, and doing mischief."

Sirdhana, Dec. 10, 1813. "I shall rejoice to see the New Testament printed in the Brij-Bhasha; and I hope that you will be able to carry on the

work, when you do begin it, with spirit. However, no greater haste than good speed. I have proceeded in the translation to the 27th chapter of the Acts, where I am beset with difficulties not easily to be surmounted. I hope to be helped through by Him whose work it is: I find great delight in it as I proceed. I have finished John's Gospel and Epistles, and propose to go on to the end of the Revelation. This I do two evenings in the week, when my writer attends to write it from my mouth: he is a very expert hand. He is also a very hopeful man, and affords me much satisfaction and encouragement. He appears delighted with the idea of becoming a Christian.

"A Mussulman Fakeer has lately attended, who appears to be prepared for the kingdom of God. Another Mussulman is with us on inquiry, who is reading the Pentateuch in Arabic, and the Persian New Testament. He is wonderfully altered in appearance. One or two of our countrymen appear serious. Three schools contain about forty children, and Mr. D. has begun one amongst the Roman Catholics, in which there are seven boys now; and more will come, it is to be expected, as prejudice gives way. These are small things, I grant; but they are the greatest our station at present affords: but small as they are, I trust that you will unite with me in giving thanks to the Father of mercies for them. We have lately had an agreeable visit from Abdul-Museeh, who is with Mr. Corrie, at Agra. Mr. D. introduced him to her Highness the Begum, and he had the honour of breakfasting with her twice. He preached to the Roman Catholics twice in the fort. I like him very much, and look with wonder and gratitude on the man, when I reflect whence he has been brought, and where he now is. God has blessed his labours, I have no doubt; and I pray that they may be more abundantly successful in that large city. He appears to have a true missionary spirit. I thank you for what you term your speculation. Things are approximating towards something grand and good, which is to take place, and bless this miserable world. I expect the next thirty years will produce great events.

"I hope to be able to procure a Sirinugur pundit at the Hurdwar fair, if not before; and when I go to Delhi, I shall

try to get a man from Joypore and Malwa. The Sirinugur country is in a miserable state, from all accounts. The slavetrade has almost depopulated the country. I wish you would make a grammar of the Hindee, in its various dialects.

"The weather here is now very cold. In the morning, before the sun rises, the ground is covered with frost as white as in Europe, and the water which stands in any vessel or confined place is covered with ice. Yesterday morning my servants brought a quantity to shew me, which was much thicker than a rupee. Twenty-five years ago, the Begum informs me, there was a very hard frost in these parts, in which the pools were frozen up, and the people and cattle suffered much from it.

"I feel my mind much out of its element. in not having any preaching campaigns. I know that it becomes me to occupy where I am, till Providence order it otherwise. I wish I were in a place where I could try the translation, and preach in the Brij-Bhasa; but for this I must wait. I hope to visit Agra, on the approach of the hot season; and then, if possible, I will visit Mutra and Brindabun with the word of life. Pray for Remember the outposts and pioneers."

us.

Such is the detail of Mr. C.'s exertions till the close of 1813. He was now like a bird, unaccustomed to confinement shut up in a cage, and longing to be at liberty, that he might expand the wings of zeal, breathe his native element, and fly through that vast expanse of darkness, declaring among the heathen the wonderful works of God, and the unsearchable riches of Christ. In this state, however, he continued to delight himself in the Lord, who soon gave unto him the desire of his heart. In January 1814, a prospect of engaging in some missionary campaigns, which he so earnestly desired, was opened to his view, as we learn from his next letter to Serampore.

Sirdhana, January 14, 1814.

"Yesterday we were surprised on the reception of a letter from Mrs. Grant, to find that Phebe* was on her way for

*His daughter-in-law.

Sirdhana. We have two boarders, and one on charity, all girls; and it is possible that we may have more before she arrives. Hence you see, we have something for her to do when she comes. As soon as I hear of her arrival at Agra, I shall get leave of absence to go and convey her hither, and on the way have a preaching campaign, for which I greatly long; I feel lost and lifeless without it. O brother! I hope that God will send me help in due time: my eyes are towards him for this. Had I a suitable colleague, what a field for itinerating I have around me! The Shikhs on the west, the Doab to the south, and Oude to the east, not to say the hills on the north. Agra and Delhi, Coel and Mynpore, Furuckabad and Meerut, Panniput and Kurnaul, and Hurdwar, all within reach. O Lord! the work is thine. Send help, for thy name's sake.

"Since I wrote to you last, things have rather revived at Sirdhana. I have great hope of Purumanunda, my head writer, and also of a Mussulman Fakeer. A Mussulman doctor is here employed in writing in the Persian character, and in reading the Scriptures. He reads the Arabic Bible excellently, and seems to delight in it: on which account I have hope of him also. Four of the Christians of this place constantly attend worship, two Roman Catholics, and two Protestants one of them is a European, an officer in her Highness's service. These I hope to see in due time appear for the Lord, some of them at least. Purumanunda desires to be baptized. I never met with a person so much to my mind as Purumanunda is. He is willing to work, and works day and night. He attends soon after sunrise, goes away for two hours to eat, and then works again till sunset; after which, two evenings in the week, and more, he attends as my amanuensis in the translation. This evening he staid till between nine and ten o'clock, and wrote off from my mouth the eighth and part of the ninth chapters of the Revelations. His brother is in our employ, and is a very modest young man. In the market, Purumanunda is in constant employ; and, besides his writing, he superintends a Hindee school, in which are ten or twelve scholars; and this from his own choice. Mr. D. has one school, in which twelve or thirteen children are

instructed in Persian and Hindoostanee: mine of the same class contains the same number; and three Hindee shools contain about forty children. We have worship in Hindoostanee every morning, in which we sing sometimes Abdul Museeh's hymns, which are much approved of by the people here. Purumanunda has composed two or three, which we sing. It would afford me much pleasure to have a month's employ at Delhi. Already many parts of the word of God have been sent thither, and distributed and Purumanunda is the firstfruits of that place. Abdul Museeh was born there, and the Mussulman who is reading the Scriptures with me now, has his family there. Who can tell? We may see a people arise in that large and wicked city, to be for a name and praise in the kingdom of grace. The Brahmuns related to Purumanunda have had an assembly relative to him, having heard of his determination to become a Christian. The old Fakeer, who is hearing the word, and appears hopeful, is a native of the Punjab. Thus you see, brother, God is gathering the outcasts together here. At worship this morning, we had one born at Cochin in the south, another at or near Surat, and one from the Punjab. You would be encouraged to see our small congregation every morning, containing about twenty boys and twelve men, and on the Sabbath one woman: most of the latter are volunteers, and some others now and then step in and hear. On Christmas day I presented to her Highness the Persian Gospels, in the name of the brethren at Serampore, with which she appeared to be pleased.

" 17th.-Mr. D. has written to me to prepare for going to Delhi, as the Begum intends to go thither next week. Thus you perceive, that I am called to preach at the capital of Hindoostan. Purumanunda seems pleased with the prospect of visiting his friends, in order to relate to them what he has been brought to understand of the gospel. He has been with me this evening, expressing his desire to be baptized : possibly he will be baptized at Delhi, as at present we have no convenient place to baptize him here. He was first brought to think of things by the Gospel of Matthew, which I sent up to Delhi from Agra. What encouragement to send the word abroad!"

« PreviousContinue »