ACCOUNTS Baptist Missionary Society.

PERIODICAL
ACCOUNTS
r e l a t iv e
to
th e
Baptist Missionary Society.
N o 7 x Î Î.
N r. M ARSHM AN's JO U RN AL.
I N D E N T IO N having been made o f a body of
people up the country, who promifed fair to embrace the
gofpel, the following journal of Mr. Marihman who went
to fee them, addrefled to Dr. Ryland, and lately arrived,
w ill give the reader a more particular account o f them
than has been before received.
-»>©<<Serampore, Nov. a , i 8o*.
I have juft fent off a letter of fix iheets for you, by an
American <hip bound to New Y ork. However I now
refume the pen by way of journalifing.
Ju ly 2, 1802. When Kriftno was baptifed we gave
him a cloth or drefs, worth about three (hillings i and con­
tinued it afterwards to all who were baptifed. However,
as we forefaw it muft in fome future time be difcontinued,
we thought it beft to do it now, as there were four to be
baptifed. W e accordingly explained the matter to them,
and they appeared very willing to provide a change o f
clothes for themfelves.— Evening. . Went among the peo­
ple afiembled round,the Rauth, or carriage of Jaggernaut :
was quite aftoniihed, on a nearer furvey, at the abominable
obfcenity of the pidtures drawn on it. O f feveral hundred,
a very great part exhibit fcenes which cannot be defcribed
V
ol.
II.
x
3
3
4
* :
by a perfon of the Ieaft feeling of modeftyj yet thefe are
the obje&s continually prefented to their youth! I talked
to a few, and diftributed fome papers.
Ju ly ,3. Lord’s day. Bharut, Peeroo the Mu flu1man,
Petumber Mittre, and Dropodee his wife, were baptifed by
brother Carey in the river. In the afternoon they were
admitted to the Lord's /upper. T his was a day of jo y
to us: oh that they may wear w e ll!
Ju ly 17 . Went to Kriftno’s in the evening: finding
them fpinning, I enquired into its nature and advantages ;
and learnt, that what a woman may earn by induftry, bears
as great a proportion to the wages of a man as the fame
employment ufed to do in England. I took occafion from
thence to mention the peculiar advantages they as chriftians would derive from induftry, frugality, aid content,
ment with little things; adverting to the cafe of many
poor but honourable chriftians in England, who thus
adorn«! the gofpel. T he women, as well as Kriftno,
feemed to enter into my ideas with much readinefs and
fpirit. W e find this very neccflary here, as aim oft every
poor Hindoo is in debt; their ideas of induftry and (Eco­
nomy are generally very lax.
Ju ly 19. Lochm is gone home. I parted with him
this morning, not without tears, under the view o f the
danger to which his foul is expofed, if he Hays in his own
country.
Ju ly
Moorad the Muflulman comes from Ponchetaluckphool, to invite one of us thither to preach
the gofpel.
Aug. 10 . As it is determined for me to accompany
Moorad, we fet out 1» d ay; talcing with us Petumber jun.
and Bharut. Having flept at M r; H .’s at Chinfurah, who
kindly furniihed me with feveral things which 1 had for­
gotten to bring with me, we departed the next morning
at nine o’clock. About twelve we flopped at Haifefohur,
five miles above Chinfurah* on the oppofite fide of the,
river. Went into the bazar, and began talking to a few,
335
who foon encreafed to about fixty. T hey heard pretty
patiently till we came to diftribute papers, when an arch
old fellow faid, T h ey would go home and judge about
what they had heard firft, and take papers afterwards.
Perceiving his drift, I begged him to take a few home to
aflift them in judging; but in vain. The people feerned
poffelfed of fuch an unaccountable fear, that I was able to
leave only one paper among them.— About tw\. p. m. we
entered the creek leading to the Juboona, which being
ihaded on both fktes with different forts of trees, was ex­
ceedingly pleafant. About eight we came-to near a vil­
lage called Bheyapoor. Our little company ailembjiing on
the large boat, we had faanily-worfhip. W e fung one of
Kriftno’s hymns, and I by moon-light read part o f John iii4
and engaged in prayer. T h e feafon was pleafant: the
ftillnefs of the evening, the brightnefs o f the moon, and
the folitarinefs of the place feemed to imprefs the mind
with a pleafmg folemnity. T h e exercife was new to the
boat-people, and perhaps gave rife to a converfation; for I
heard Moorad and Petumber talking with them a long time
after I was lain down to reft.
Aug. 12. A t feven in the morning we met a boat,
carrying a corpfe to be burnt on the banks of Gonga: notwithftanding the Hindoo’s averfion to a dead body, yet they
had brought this more than forty miles, (a night and a day’s
journey) to fecure the falvation o f the deceaied, by burning
him on the banks of the holy river !— A t eight we came to
Bcerool or Berooee. Met with a few at the ghaut, with
whom we began talking. After breakfaft we went into
the village, and converged with more: they feemdil to
hearken rather attentively. W e gave them papers, and
prayed. A man came for a testament, io the name o f a
brahman, who, he laid, was a confiderable officer there. We
gave another to a per Ion going to Krijbno-nagore. Return­
ing from the village, we found feveral brahmans at the
ghaut: they did no: feem difpofed to hear; but a difcuffion,
X x 2
536
of the merits of their debtahs brought on a confiderabJe
converfation.
I infifted that God was rifing to take
vengeance on them, and that there was no way for
their worihippers to efcape, but by coming to Chrift for
mercy. T hey feemed very indignant at hearing this : how­
ever juft as the boat was putting off, they requefted a teftament, which we gave them. Another man alio came from
the village where we had been, to request one for a brah­
man, privately.— After we had proceeded about two miles,
a man, who faid he lived at Monohorgunge, in the remote
part of JefTore diftrict, called at the water fide for a teftament, which we gave him, with various papers.— About
five p. m. feeing a few people fitting under a tree, we put
to, and carried them fome papers. After fome talk on the
infufficiency of our own doings to wipe away fin, we told
them of the gofpel. T hey feemed to hear willingly. T w o
brahmans were there : one of whom faid he had heard this
news laft year, from a Sahib who called there. (Brother
W ard.) W e learnt that we were only four miles from
Jierooee by land, although we had left it feven hours. Cameto at nine this evening, near a fmall village called Choubajfee. Had worihip by moon-light: Bharut prayed.
Aug. 13 . Set off at five : about ten came-to, under
the ihadeof a large banian tree, near a village called Gayghatta. After breakfaft, I went aihore, and began with a
few people who were fitting under the tree. I had the
happinefs to be pretty well underftood ; and reafoned much
with them on their need of pardoning mercy, and the fitnefs
of Chrift to iave. Perceiving fome of them were muffulmans, I read and explained good part of dear brother Pearce’s
Addrefs, to which they liftened attentively. Thefe poor
people feemed far more interefted in the news than any I
had before met with : prayed and gave them papers.— At
nine in the evening, entered the Ifamutty, and lay-to for
the night. Aftsr we had eaten, we had worihip as ufual,
and Moo rad engaged: he was very ihort, and rather conJ fufed, as might be expected j but there feemed in his prayer
337
a fenfe of fin, and a delire after falvation. W e lay down
to reft about eleven; but were affailed by fuch numbers of
muskatoos that it was quite impracticable on my part, and
that of most of the boat-men. W e pafled the time in con­
flicting with them till near four, and then fet off.
Aug. 14. W e {topped at a fmall village, called
Neescheendopoor, two miles from Chandmreea, to purchafe
fiih. About twenty people were aflembled on the bank of
the river, to whom we began fpeaking the word o f life.
Perceiving no brahman amongft them, I did not begin with
any remarks on the Hindoo fyftem; but told them that they
were finners, and that for fuch Jefus Chrift died : they
heard with unufual willingnefs, and one old man whom I
was addrefsing feemed to filed tears. After labouring much
to make them underftand the gofpel, I appealed to Bharut,
Petumber, and Moorad for confirmation : they each came
forward ; and, in a different way, addreiled them upon the
fubje£t. Petumber invalidated, in a very ftriking manner,
the Hindoo ihafters and worihip. Bharut told them what
he had been, and how he had embraced the gofpel ; called
their attention to their own fmfulnefs, telling them that
their tongues, their head, their hands, their feet, their heart,
and all were fin ; and affirmed that none could fave them but
the Lord Jefus Chrift. His grey hairs and fimplicity ren­
dered his addrefs (to me) truly affe&ing. Moorad told them
of his hearing the truth ; of his going to us ; of his return­
ing now again to bring the gofpel to his own village; and
that it was impoifible to be faved in any other way. Seve­
ral feemed affe&ed, confeiied their danger, and enquired much
about the way of fafety : we told them what we could,
gave them papers, and prayed with them.— At eleven, a. m.
we arrived at Chandbareea, the town where brother Carey
made his firft attempt to preach in Bengalee. W e went
into the market-place, and foon collected near a hundred. I
declared the way of life to them with much liberty, nearly
half an hour ; and'afterwards Petumber went into a (hop,
and talked with them, fitting all around. However, there
338
was not the difpofition to hear as at the laft place. Many
fcoffed, and urged their own gods. This made me crimin­
ate them (their gods) with much feverity, and tell them that
God was riling to deftroy the whole rabble of debtahs. I
then again folemnly warned them o f their danger, and beg­
ged them, at leaft, to examine; but to this they feemed quite
averfe, and but few took papers.— Coming through the
place w e faw Locbon. He is fettled here in the weaving
line, his old employ. He accompanied us a mile out of
the town: I begged him not to throw his foul into hell for
the fake of a little worldly pleafure, reminding him that be
knew there was no other way of falvation befides Chrift.
H e faid that he knew this, and had not forgotten what he
had learnt at Serampore ; that he had a teftament by him,
and fometimes took an opportunity to fpeak about the gofpel.
A little boy was with him whom he had taught who was
the Saviour of the world. W e gave him a few papers;
came-to at eight, near old Baongang.
Ju g . 15 . Lord’s day. Being near our journey’s end,
we fet off at four, a. m. About ten Moorad left us to go be­
fore and give intelligence, as we were within four miles of
his village, Fcnchetalockpbool. Came within fight o f the great
tree, under which we were to itop, and difcerned Moorad
and others waiting to receive us, while others were run­
ning acrofs the fields to join them. W e arrive ; and the
men who came to Serampore, with others, receive us in the
moft affectionate manner: we immediately fat down tin­
der the tree, and began declaring to them our mcfoge4 and
the defign of our coming, withal opening the nature of the
gofpel to them. After they had heard with much earneftj&efs about half an hour, they defired me to eat, and go with
them. I iat down on the boat to my dinner of rice and
curry, in the prefence of them all ; the novelty of feeing
a European eat, attracted fo many that the boatmen began
to fform for fear the boat ihould give way. After dining I
went to their houfe, about two hundred yards from the tree ;
it is built of m ud, and furrounded by a fmall farm-yard ; it
339
*•!«£►£>£►«*»
has two verandahs raifed on the outiide, one above another*
fomewhat refembling two feats in a gallery, and capable of
feating a number of people. Here, and in fmall cots near,
feveral of them, Hindoos and Muffulmans, live together like
a brotherhood. Thefe all now aflembled, with their neigh­
bours, and fome who feemed enquiring, to the number o f
fifty. Sitting down in the midft of them, I began with ihewing the rmpolEbility of a man’s purging away his lins, or
becoming righteous by his own works ; thende deducing
the neceifity of God’s fending his own Son, in the likenefs
of iinful fleib, to condemn fin, and fave the linner. T h e
idea that God’s hatred of fin was manifefted more by the
death of his Son, than it would have been in the puniihment of the (inner, feemed to ftrike them very fenfibly.
I then entered on the Hindoo fyftem, expofed the wickednefs of their gods, and the abfurdity of their worihip*
thence inferring that it could be nothing but a fnare laid by
fatan to deftroy the fouls of men. I then began to examine
the Mahometan aelufion in the fame manner. They liftened with earneft attention; put all the queftions they chofe
as I went along, and defired proof for every thing. But
though they thus put queftions, and ltarted obje£fcions, yet
it was quite in a fair and candid manner; and they themfelves, as well as Petumber and Moorad, afsifted in explain­
ing to each other, and thofe around as we went along.—It
was now four o’clock; and I obferving to them that they
muft needs be weary, propofed retiring to my boat till fix,
and then return to renew the fubje&. T o this they agreed;
but it was in vain to think of getting rid of them: they
accompanied us to the boat, and while I lay down to refreih myfelf a little, they continued the fubjeft with
Petumber. At fix, I was going with them, but met with
rather a curious accident. One of the boat-men, confident
of his ability to take me alone to the ftiore, (only a few
yards,) fell down in the river, and gave me a pretty, com­
fortable ducking. However, thefe friends waited very
patiently while I changed my clothes. Returning, we ali
340
lkt down in the yard, and I addrefied them from thefe words:
We pray you in Chrtjl's Jlead, be ye reconciled to God. I ob~
ferved thence that we were at a great diftance from God
through fin, and could never be reconciled till that were
removed j that God himfelf, when man was utterly unable,
had found out a way of reconciliation through the death of
his Son, which way I then beiought them to acquiefce in,
and accept. One of them, a Mufiulman, here interrupt ingly replied, That-though all this might be very true, yet
it was by no means neceffary for them; for Mahomet, the
friend of God, had engaged to get all their fins pardoned at
the day of judgment. T o this I replied, That even allow­
ing Mahomet to be the friend of God; yet he was but a
man, and had never died for finners: he therefore could
only fave himfelf at moft. But Noah, Abraham, Mofes,
and David, whom they allowed to be prophets, as well as
Mahomet, had decidedly rejeited their own righteoufnefs,
and trufted in Chrift for falvation. As for Mahomet,
there was fome reafon to doubt whether he was indeed the
friend of God : for, to fay nothing of many other aftions,
it was well known that he had nine wives, which they
thetnfelves knew to be unlawful ; and that he had com­
manded all who would not turn MuiTulmans, to be put to
death, which was contrary to God’s command; thou Jhalt
not kill. T o think, therefore, that Mahomet could fave at
the day of judgment, was a grofs deception, as he would
then have quite enough to do to clear himfelf. In this he
acquiefced; and 1 afterwards learnt that he had ftarted this
obje&ion, only for the fake of having it anfwered in the
hearing of the MuiTulmans prefent. W e then adjourned to
the veranda, where we fpent a moft pleafing evening
together; they fitting around, and aiking queftion* about
Chrift, the refurre&ion, the death of fin, a future ftate, and
heavenly happinefs. W e talked of thefe things till our
hearts feemed to grow warm#—About nine, I left them,
aftoniflbed and thankful, on account o f what I had feen and
heard among them.
S+l
Ju g . 16. About feven, a. m. they took me to Gobrapore, a village about two miles diftant. Here dwell a
number of brahmans; ignorant, rich, and intolerably proud ;
with whom, however, they had ventured to contend. W e
met with eight or ten of thefe brahmans, who would
fcarcely vouehfafe a word to my companions, or Petumber.
After-much entreaty j they condefcended to fit down a few
moments with me. I laid before them the gofpel, which
they-declared no one would ever receive, and enlarged •
much in the praife of their gods, particularly gonga. I told
them people had already begun to receive it, and more
would follow; for God Almighty had engaged to fupport
it, and to deftroy their debtahs; into whofe characters I
entered rather minutely. This brought on a long alterca­
tion, in which they difcovered the tnoft violent hatred of
the gofpel. Perceiving that this contention, ( f o r f e i t
literally was) feemed likely to produce little good, I told ■
them, that perhaps ! ihould never fee them any more; but
that both they and I ihould certainly ftand before the judg­
ment-feat of that God before whom their debtahs would
fly away as chaff before the wind, -and begged them to
think what they would then do; but this affe&ed them
nothing. I offered them papers, begging them to read and
judge. Some received them, and tore them in pieces
before my face.
- ~ Thence we went to Gara-paia, about a mile diftant,
where was a bazar. It happened to be market day, fo that
a great number were affembled. W e went through-the
bazar to a place about forty yards diftant from it, where an
old ftock of a building, raifed a few feet from the ground,
made an excellent pulpit; and the largeft Bengalee congre­
gation affembled here, that I had ever feen around any of
us; I fuppofe nearly three hundred. Here with.all the
itrcngth of lungs I had left, I attempted to ihew them the
way of life; taking for a text-book one of the papers be­
ginning with, u Oh beloved Hindoos.” T h is I read and
V ol . II.
Y y
S4 2 “*<»-«>4»«commented on, and my companions explained what they
thought obfcure. After 1 had gone through this paper,
one of my companions, (a MuiTulman) whifpered, K Many
of,them are MuiTulmans, tell them about Mahomet.” Then
turning to that fubjeft, I attempted to expofe the delufions
o f that impoftor, and begged them to renounce both, and
come to Jefus Chrift as the only way of life. After pray­
ing, I diftributed papers ; and the people were fo eager for
them, that I could fcarcely prevent their tearing them at
once out of my hands. Coming through the bazar, I
ftepped up on a rifing ground, and faw the whole multitude
in a ferment, running together to enquire, What is it ?
A number followed us put of the village, to whom we gave
all the papers we had. W e now returned home; aná they
informed me that a famous brahman in the neighbourhood
had promifed to come in the afternoon, and difpute the
point at their houfe: they therefore defired me to come at
five. I then retired from the boat. A t five I went to
their houfe again, and this brahmán came with five or fix
more. T he aJTembly was very full.— The brahman per­
mitted me to begin. I took for a text-book* a fhort fummary of the gofpel, drawn up by brother Carey, comment­
ing on, and largely applying it as I went on. The
brahman then began by faying, that we were all in God,
and God in us *, therefore we could be charged with no fin,
as God did all. He then proceeded to ftate, that there
was one Birmho; and from him proceeded Birmha, Veeihno,
and Secb. That Birmba’s.work was to create; and that
from his mouth proceeded brahmans, from his arms the
kibettres, from his thighs the byfa tribe, and from his feet
the fooders;— that there were three goons, or qualities,
fotta, roza, toma; that the firft dwelt in Birmha, the
fecond in Veeihno, and the laft in Seeb;—that in every
man there are ten indricas,* or apertures of the body, and
fix repoos or enemies.; luft, pride, anger, Sic. But that
,*
By thefe ten indrica», they, mean the fenici of the bodyj and by
reckoning two eyes, two ears, 6cc. they make up ten. The term used among
them fu a %hafte temperate character, ügtáñet coa¡utror of tht ¡míricas.
343
fot the waihing away of fin, the great gonga was given,
and twelve treetas, or holy places j a pilgrimage to either of
which would remove fin: and laftly, that if a perfon only
repeated the name of Ram once, twenty millions of fins
would be obliterated! Hence they were finlefs, and there
could not poflibly be any fin in Bengal; and therefore they
had no occafion for the gofpel.— I now begged leave to
reply : and firft I wilhed to obferve,that thefe three, Birmha,
Veeihno, and Seeb, could not be of God j becaufe their own
books proved that they were finners: Birmha was evidently
the goroo of thieves. Here I repeated the ftory o f Sogur
Rajah’s houfe, and of Birmha’s advifing lndra to go and
ileal it; obferving, “ Now Birmha is gone !” T his pro­
duced a fenfation among the brahmans refembling that of
plunging a hot iron into water. Birmha gone! exclaimed
the brahman in great wrath,— Gone where? Proved a
finner, iaid I— But I heard you patiently, and you ought to
hear the whole of my reply. This was allowed by the
aflembly; and I proceeded. Veeihno is Creeihno j firft he
debauched 16,000 virgins; then he quarrelled with lndra
about a flower. Here you behold two ungjbaws, or parts
of the deity, quarrelling and abufing each other. M y hands,
or my feet never quarrel. How ! Is the deity more fooliih or more wicked than a man?— W hile I was enlarging
here, the brahman and his companions, to the furprize of
all, rofe up and went away. I followed, and begged him
to return and finiih the debate; but he refufed, without
affigning any reafon. I found afterwards that the reafon
was this : feveral Zozomans, or priefts, were prefent, who
were colle&ing money for a facrifice: thefe hearing how
the caufe was likely to go, broke up the court before it
came to a final decifion; left the neighbours and others
prefent, deeming it a loft caufe, ihould refufe to contribute
any thing!
After this an old man, who feems the chief among
them, took me afide for private converfation. He aiked m€
Y y 2
* * < ? < ? € > 1"
whether (?od wasabfent ©rprefent? I told him he was
prefent every where, but dwelt in # peculiar :manner 'in
diem, who lovpd him. +He; then.afted . we a variety of
queftions about the .gofpel, a future judgment, aod the
deftrfjction of idolatry j and finally,: whethero we Mwero
fent to deftroy maya^ pr delufion ; by which he meant
hindopifm and mahometanifm. I told him we were.. He
then entreated us to do it quickly, .and l>y, no. means to be
idle in the work. ,' u.
>-?, ■
r'.} He is a pleafant grave Hindoo, nearly fixty. In his
mlnd^ftnftarofe doubts about idolatry : he n0w creje&s all
their cpoojahs and cafts ; and fays there is pneGod, whom
fee calls ‘Father. He hears the gofpel with apparent pleafure, and recommends it to others. -.1 find .that about four­
teen years ago,-fome of his neigbboursbegafc to diJQike
idol^fy tbo, and to aflbciate with him.5> Thefe, making
no fecijet of their fentiments, foon . fprcad them among
others, both Hindoos and .Muffylmans : $u§ they are jencreafed'to %confiderable nutnher. MoojCAd told me . they
reckoned; Qear two hundred there, and in adjacent villages,
^ho-aflpciate with them, and whom they called brethren.
T hey are not Wlein diffemin^ting their opinions, atid f<tfnetjtjjgf ojeei with,much oppofition from the brahmins.
.1 pever few any /Hindoos, except Ivri/inta’s family,
liften to thiegofpel like thefe, people. As far as l was ^ble,
Ideclared the whole ,of; ;it to them without any referve ■,
and they f&gjfcd to receive, it cordially, making no objec-,
tion to a*?y part. v. Tim e ^lone can difco'yer how they re­
ally feel toward it. v Their affectionate behaviour ;to wards
nje, I have feldom feen exceeded ev$n among brethren in
England; they, offered me a kid,,a young pigj or any. -thing .
T wiihed. However, I only took a little feilk. & linderilandjBg, that I intended to depart oh the morrow, they
promifed to accompany me a few miles. Returning to the
boat about nine, I met with an elderly; well-looking muflulr^an.J I learnt that he lived at Gobindopore^w^ is h^adof a
conftderable number there who defpife mahometanifm. Hear*
345
~»e><>©•«-
ing at ibme.bazar that a perforv was diftributing papers, h e :
he with fome trouble>fdund me out. He continued talk­
ing with Bhamt and'Petumbsr till near midnight. His
name is Monoit.
A ugi\q\ At fix o’clock: four of our friends, with
Monoo, came to>accompany u s .7 Many people came to fee
us departj and: among the reft the. old gentleman before­
men tionedi-rrrAbout ten, coming near a village called Sookpookera, they deiired me to go and fpeak to the people about
the gofpel.' Going through a fmall wood, or rather grove,
IH'our way to the bazar, we met an old brahman, whom
they-defired.to: go and call others. About twenty came ;
feven or eightiof them brahmans. I began with the old
brahman,.on the jmpofsiibilityof being faved by the Hindoo
debtahs. He made fome feeble attempts to defend the fyftem, but foon gave over ; and acknowledged that worftiiping unholy, gods would never, makea man holy. He then
liftened with .much apparent attention to the gofpel, which
I delivered to them as briefly as 1 could. I prayed with
them and gave them papers, which they received without
befitation. T o the old brahman, 1 gave a teftament, at
the requeft of 'our friends, who aflured me he was a great
pundit, and would xead it to others. W e met two or three
more in our way, who had little to fay for their own fyftem, and took papers willingly.— Afterabout a mile’s walk*
we came to the bazar, which is held under a large tree.
Here were but few, the market being held in the afternoon.
However, more than twenty fat down ; moft of them Raj­
poots, (literaryking’ s fons) or fepooys, who were fet there
on duty. Thefe feemed to hear attentively, and I felt much
interefted, as they were of a province confiderably diftant.
Our friends alfo took much pains in explaining the fubjedt
to them. After praying, I went to the boat, and lefc them
difcourfmg with thefe people.
About three we arived at Ghatbaoor, and called on a
Muflulman Moonihi, an acquaintance of theirs, who holds
a confiderable office under the Collector of Nuddea diftritb
346
V
well verfed in Perfic and Arabic. He received uS with
great politenefs, and urged me much to eat. About forty
muflulmans and brahmans, employed by him, fat round,
while we con verfed on the gofpel. I begged him, reipeSfully, to hear and folvea few doubts which I had to propofe. I could not conceive how finxould be done away
by man’s holinefs : I was convinced that the beft of my
a£ions were mixed with fin, and that God could not regard
any actions in which was the leaft fin j that this was the
cafe with all, whether Hindoos or Muflulmans. Here 1
wiihed to know how a man could be reconciled to >God;
He replied, B y worihipping him. I objected, that man’s
heart was finful i and confequently his worfhip mull be io
too. He faid, he did not know. I begged leave to dire&
his attention to Jefus Chrift, whom they efteemed as a pro­
phet j and urged that Noah, Abraham, Mofes, and David,
were favedby him, quoting Heb. xi. 25. That Mahomet
himfelf had borne the moft honourable teftimony to Jefus
as a holy perfon. Now Jefus himfelf faid, that he gave
his life for the fin of the world, and that only he who
believed on him could be faved. I f this were not true,
then Mahomet had borne a falfe teftimony; but if it were
true, then there can be falvation in no other. The Moonihi
faid, he knew but very little about thefe things; that what
I faid was reafonable; but that he never weighed thefe fubje&s very feriouily. He faid, he could not read the Ben­
galee teftament; but if we could furniih him with a Perfic
tranflation, he would read and confider it. He rather
recommended the papers to the reft, and urged me to ftay
a day or two. I promifed, if I ever came that way again,
I would certainly call on him. It being now five o’clock,
the Luckphool* friends were obliged to take leave: they exprefled great relu&ance at parting, and faid however, we
would fing and pray together firft; which we did. I then
begged them to hold faft the truth which they had heard,
the death of Chrift as the only way of falvation ; and to let
• A contra&ion of PonchctalockphooJ
347
•**>«**«•
as hear from them frequently. They made me promife to
fend them a letter when we got home, and faid that fome of
them would again vifit us at the end of the rains. I
aifiired them that we fhould remember to pray for them
conftantly ; and they faid, that they would alfo pray for us.
Thus we parted. Monoo went with them, promifing to
come to Serampore after the rains. W e now preflèd for-;
ward as fail as poffible ; and about eight, ftopped within
three miles o i Cbandooreea. As we we were going forward,
Petumber told me of a man, named Seeb Ram Dafs, who
rejeâs idolatry, and has nearly 20,000 followers, Hindoos
and Muflulmans ; that if we went to fee him, probably he
and his followers would hear the gofpel. Petumber him­
felf was once among them. When we were come to Chandooreea, he wrote this his old gooroo a note ; and deiiring
me to write fomething in it too, I wrote this in Engliih
and Bengalee :—
Sir,
Ï am coming tp preach the gofpel of the living
God. I f you will aiTemble the people to hear, I ihall
efteem it a favour.
Yours,
Aug. 1 1 , 1802.
J . M a rsh m a n .
This note Petumber committed to the care of Lochpn, who
sent it him.
Being now within ten miles o f Juggerdundakatty, the
refidence of this man, I thought it would not be tim e
thrown away to call there. But the road was exceeding
difficult. By land, the kolls of water rendered it almoift
impaffible; and by w ater, it was a long and tedious way.
However, on the 18th we fet off, about three in thé morn­
ing, with the boats, and wandered in the rice fields: it was
curious enough to fee the boats thus making their way
through the rice fields. The corn was fo high that you
could fcarcely difcern any w ater ; y et the boats went
through it often with cafe. As we w ere thus going
through the fields, we faw two brahmans at a diftanCe.
One of them came to us. W e told him in a few words
348
n>■“>ri'rt in
*.
that Ms ihafterswere falfe, andhis debtahswicked; cbnfo*
quentiy, he; cduld never be feved by worihipping them— .
told him o f Jefus C hrift,'of his death’ as¡tJie only atone-'
ment for fin-, and gave-him. foine papers to^tate^Kome^o
Ifaporty and the Jeh w m ; we -thep fcnt-him back, Prefently, hiscompanion called after us, faying that he refufed!
to part with any of the papers». W e then* turned the boat
towards this man, land be came to us, up to the middle'
ini water: we gave him different papers, with a veryihort
verbal abftra£t of them; and he fet off w ith' them ta
his village, BaUenu.
.
<
?j
•
;
About two o’clock, p. m. we were ohliged to ftop,
there being not more than a foot of water in the field.
Near us was a great tree, and fomething like'a bazar under
it. Petumber going to enquire, found’ fome of Ram Dafs’s people there, whom, he knew. T hey told him we were
four miles from Juggerdundakatty, and that they would
accompany us thither. At four, we fet off with theferpeople, who feemed much pleafed to lhear.of ffiiTAeiiandj led us
by a pafiable way, and fenr one of their number before* to
provide a boat, that we might go up the Byetnut a fmall
river, immediately to Seeb Ram Dafs’s houfe, where we
arrived about fix. Juggerdundakatty prefented an afpe/£t
very different from Ghofpara.* It is true, here were
Go las (or ftore-houfes] full, and heaps of.grain in the
yard, which I fuppojfe they had been cleaning : every thing
wore the appearance o f plenty, but here was nothing
njagnificent, nothing but mud walls. T he old man was
fitting jn the (hade on a blanket, furrounded by. a few. of his
followers.. H e ordered a mat for me, on which I placed
myfeff without any ceremony. In a few moments, nearly
a. hundred-of his followers fcated themfelves on the, ground
around us : the old man,jafter a few words, tolfl me he
received pur note; but no time being fixed, he kn$w not
when to cpl)e£l his people. Indeed we did not know when
We ihould be able to come. W e now entered, on the
• i»ee No. xi. Pouo^Icfl Account«, p. z 6 t
349
gofpel, the nature of which I defcrrbed j urged the immuta­
bility of God’s love, the neceflity of Chrift’s death, and the
impoflibility of being reconciled to God without fuch an
atonement. T he old man heard apparently with approba­
tion ; faid thefe were true words, and converfed much with
his attendants. It is as unneceflary as impoffible to detail
particularly a converfation of more than two hours: fuffice
it to fay, that whenever I defcribed the happinefs of being
reconciled to God as a child to his father, the old man’s eyes
feemed to difcover a degree of delight. I now prefented
him with a teftament, which he received kindly. He then
treated me with milk, plantains and iweetmeats ; and requefted me to ftay a few days. His fon, named Sonatony
a fine youth about twenty, now took me into a room re*fembling an out-houfe in a farm yard in England, only the
floor and mud walls fomewhat fmoother. Here he fpread a
mat for me to fleep on : I caft a iheet over it, and flept
better than at any time before on my journey. T he old
man continued difcourfing with Bharut and Petumber till
near midnight.
Aug. 19. At fun-rifing, the old gentleman had a place
in his orchard fwept, a blanket fpread for himfelf, mats
brought for the people, and a chair for me. Here we fat,
difcourfing more than two hours. T w o brahmans who
live near, came; very pieafant andfenfible men. I afterwards
learnt that they had imbibed fomething of the old gentle­
man’s fentiments. As he was bufily occupied in fmoaking>
I dire&ed my difcourfe principally to them, and went over
nearly the fame ground as on the preceding evening. T h ey
feemed to hear with approbation, and made fome pertinent
observations, as did the old gentleman ; but his difcourfe
was fo full of figures, that I found it difficult to underftand
him. I aiked thefe brahmans whether they rejedted idolatry?
This queftion they feemed unwilling to anfwer. I inti­
mated that I could not fuppofe they believed thofe to be
gods who fo frequently quarreled with each other. T hey
replied* that when their gods took on them the form of men,
V o l . II.
Z z
350
'*»w v
they ailed like men. I obferved that Seeb and Dborga were
not incarnate when they quarreled. At this they were iilent;
for they ha* the laugh of the whole company upon them ;
and the old gentleman feemed pleafed to hear their debtahs
thus expofed: he feems no friend to the Hindoo gods. Underftanding I had brought papers, they wiihed to fee them.
T hey were brought, and I read through a fummary of the
gofpel, with which they feemed pleafed: the old man alfo,
and others, fpoke highly of it as being “ good words.” W e
now retired to the houfe, and they gave me milk and plan­
tains for breakfaft. Meanwhile Sonaton, the old man’s fony
fat down in the yard, with a circle around him, and read
one of the trails of twenty pages quite through: many
came and received them. I committed about three hun­
dred, with three teftaments, to Sonaton’s care, to be diftributed as he chofe among his father’s followers. About
twelve they provided me fome dinner ; rice, fiflj, butter and
plantains : as they brought neither knife, fork or fpoon, I
had recourfe to the ancient Adamic mode without any fcruple. When I was ready to depart, the old man took me
aftde, anddeftred we would do quickly what God had given
us to do. Sonaton accompanied me down the Byetna, with
fix or feven more; and the old man fent a pot of fweetmeats after me. I then took a Bengalee palanquin, and
went acrofs the fields to Chandooreea; where Bharut,
whom I had fent early in the morning to bring the boats
round, was juft arrived. It was evening : and a few people
being at the water fide,.I went and talked a little with them,
and diftrrbuted papers. While I was talking, Lochon came
to me. I begged him to pray, read the word, and hold tail
the gofpel; and withal to come and fee us as often as he
could: this he promifed* W e now haftened home as faft as
poffible: and by the good hand of God on us, arrived fafely
on the 2 1 ft* about five, p. m.
Thus I have given you a particular detail of my jour­
ney to thefe new and fingular people. Y ou will form your
own judgment of them. W e cannot but hope however, that
there is fomething in their being thus loofened. from the
Sòl
Hindoo fyftems which marks the hand of providence, and
which may be introductory to their becoming partakers o f
a better hope.
Sept. 28. Moorad and two others are arrived from
Ponchetalokphool. T he brahmans at Gobrapore have made
great oppofition iince I left them : they have torn the pa­
pers to pieces, and hung them up near the houfes of thofe
who received them ; have forbidden thofe to go near who
were willing to hear at Gobrapore, and have exhibited many
fcurrilous papers on the houfes of their own friends. Some
o f thefe papers have been brought to us.
Ofi. 23. Brother Ward went to Ponchetalokphool
on the n th inftant, and is returned with fome encouraging
accounts. T h e people feem deiirous of a fchool-houfe be­
ing erected there, and alfo a place of worihip. Monoo is
returned with him.
OR. 25. Three men arrived from Juggerdundakatty^
bringing a letter from Sonaton, the fon of Seeb Ram Dafs,
in which he enquires how it happens that all fin is not de_
ftroyed in Bengal, fince Jefus Chrift died to deftroy the
fins of the world ? He wiihes us to call there again, and
complains of our delay. W e received the meflengers with
all poflible kindnefs, and endeavoured to point them to the
way of life ; but their ideas at prefent appear very dark and
confufed.—It is a little fingular that we have now with us
perfons from four different feds or divifions : the meflengers
from Ponchetalokphool ; thofe from Juggerdundakatty ; Monoo9
who is faid to be at the head of two or three hundred ; and
a perfon named Shuta Ram, who feparated from Juggerdun.
dakatty, and who is followed by about two hundred. He
has been here this fortnight. All thefe came originally from
Ram Dulol,* father at Ghorpora. T hey all reje& the Hin­
doo fyftem, either wholly or partially; but none of them
foriàke fin. Notwithftanding, we cannot but confider this
change in their minds as a kind of dawn preceding thè
rifing o f the Sun of Righteoufnefs.
?
* See No. x i. pp. z6»— s66.
Z 2 2
t
352
Mr. JVARD's JO U RN AL,
(From Nov. 20, 1802, to Jan. 28, 2803.)
wwiLi||^fl9UJUW
Nov. 20, 1802. This evening we agreed that
IComal, the brahman, ihould be employed as the Bengalee
fchoolmafter, as Petumber is going to Sookfaugur.
Nov. 22. W e fpent this evening in prayer for
Petumber, who fets off to-morrow to begin his miilioi)
amongft his countrymen at Sookfaugur. Brother Carey
gave him a fuitable and folemn charge: the opportunity
was very pleafant.
Nov. 23. T his forenoon Petumber, accompanied by
Komal, fet out on his journey. I went with brother Carey
to Calcutta to take leave of Mr. Cunninghame.
Nov. 25. Komal returned from Sookfaugur. An old
friend of Petumber-s has accommodated him with a place to
live in for a time.
Nov. 26. Brother Carey brought with him from Cal­
cutta 1000 rupees, which Captain S——- has prefented to
the million. He has been lately brought to a knowledge
o f the truth by means of an afHi&ive difpenfation— the
death of his lady; and is about to leave India.
Nov. 28. Lord’s day. Brother Marihman preached
in Engliih, from Thy kingdom came! Brother Carey was
twice amongft the natives. In the evening three of us went
over the water to Khorda, where Felix and I were detained
laft year by an Engliih police officer. We went into dif­
ferent parts o f the town, and gathered a large congregation.
T h e natives feem every where to have the notion, that we
are come merely to deftroy their caft. Some of them were
furprifed when I informed them, that we would not give a
cowrie for the caft of every Bengalee in the country, and
that we only wanted holy people, of whatever caft. One
nan aiked : “ But where can holy people be found ?” — We
were invited to the houfe of a principal man j but as the
evening was far fpent, next Lord’s day was appointed for
353
the interview, and to judge upon the gofpel. Brother
Marihman met with fome rough treatment: the trafts were
ftolen out of his pockets, and the young people raifed a
great deal of noife and confufion. One man, to whom bro­
ther M. had given a teftament, had his clothes rent, and the
book taken from him. A number followed brother M .
to the boat; and the man who had been fo treated got on
board the boat, and came with us to Serampore.
Nov. 29. This morning about a dozen perfons came
to our houfe from Kborda, fent by Ram Hurry Bifnas, a
rich fooder, who has fpent a lack of rupees in building Seeb’s
temples near his houfe. They came to demand the man
who came with us laft night by the boat, faying that he
was the fervant of Ram Hurry Bifhas. W e informed them
that he came of his own acord; we neither enticed nor
forced him, and he left our houfe in the morning before
we were up. They would not believe i t ; but placed two
men with fwords before our gates to keep watch. After
reminding them of the illegality of their proceedings, they
went away quietly.
Dec. 4. T his afternoon brother Marihman and Felix
went over the water to the gofaye’s at Kborda, and converfed with him a long time. The gofaye faid that he was
the gooroo (teacher) of all the country : if we could con­
vert him, he intimated that all the reft would be eafy.
Dec. 5. Lord’s day. A letter is received from Petumber at Sookfaugur. After his arrival he began to talk
about the gofpel, and to judge with them : they urged the
faith of Creelhnoo. When this was over, they confulted to­
gether, and agreed that a place ihould be provided for him
in that town. He then fpoke to the fervant of a Portuguefe gentleman, named Baretto, who had a large houfe
there, and he was invited to ftay. Some people were hear­
ing and receiving the word, and he promifes to take-them
with him to Serampore on the next ordinance day;
Dec. 6. T h is day a man came from Calna, having
he^rd that we gave looo rupees and a miftrefs to thofe who
354
would lofe caft. W e have been talking to him, and fo has
K om ai: whether better defires will be found in him, we
cannot te ll: God can call him even on this way to Damafcus.
Dec. 7. Felix and I went to Sookfaugur to fee Pe­
tumber. Previous to our departure we converfed again
with the man from Calna, along with Komal, who feems
more decidedly for Chrift than heretofore.
Dec. 8. W e arrived this morning at Sookfaugur,
and found Petumber going on with his work with fome
hopes of fuccefs. He thinks one man has really received
the gofpel: he was a byraggee; and Petumber has direited
him to put on decent clothes, and to forbear begging: he
is conftantly with the good old man. Five or fix others
are much with him, hearing and enquiring. Petumber is
rather w eakly; but fays he is happy in his work. I was
much pleafed with him, and with the profpc&s at Sookfaugur.
Dec. 12 . Lord’s day. Brother Carey preached in
Engliih, and went with brother Marihman, Fernandez and
William, to a place up the river, where they collected two
congregations of quiet hearers. Felix and I went to
Krifino’s, and Felix preached in Bengalee at night. Bro­
ther Carey has had a cold lately, and feems rather afthmatic;
but enjoys good health in general. Lately brother Marih­
man has been much among the natives in the afternoons,
when fchool is over. I have myfelf been greatly confined
in the printing-office: brother Carey’s Shanfcrit Gram­
mar is a laborious work. W e have latejy printed 1000 of
Dr. Doddridge’s fermon on the care of the foul, as an addrefs to the profefl'ors of chriftianity in India. Mr. C. gave
100 rupees towards the printing of this, and other fmali
tracts.
Dec. 17 . Brother Carey brings word from Calcutta
that Mr. Buchanon has a great defire to get the bible
tranflated into Hindoftanee and Perfic.
Dec* 19. Lord’s day. In the afternoon feveral of us
went to Khorda: we were fent for by a rich native, and
555
we talked to him and ochers nearly two hours; daring
which time much contempt was call upon the gofpel. A s
a proof that Hindooifm was true, this man mentioned
among many other things, that laft week a woman had
burnt herfelf with the corpfe of her huiband near that place.
I told him that women of bad character were known to
burn with their huibands, and therefore it was no proof
that the holinefs pleaded for was any thing.
Dec. 24. It has been ftrongly recommended to us to
attempt the eredtion o f a place of worihip on a convenient
fpot at Calcutta, where we ihould have the opportunity of
preaching the gofpel to Europeans and natives, and to the
failors near the ihore: but it is eilimated that the expenfe
would not be much lefs than 20,000 rupees. A plan has
alfo been formed-for the purpofe of continuing the gofpel in
the Million Church at Calcutta: a monthly fubfcription is
entered into by the friends of religion, to maintain an evan­
gelical miniftry there, and to defray the other expences.—
W e continue our exertions among the natives, and often
meet with a large ihare of contempt. Komal the brahman
talks a good deal, and begins to make fome noife. W e
look on, watch over him, and pray for him. He tells
other brahmans that the way of the Hindoos is the way of
death; that the bible is the word of God, and that he will
become a chriftian. Perreiro, a Portuguefe young man at
Calcutta, appears to be truly ferious: brother Carey goes
as ufual, and fpeaks at his houfe every week.
Dec. 27. T his evening we had a meeting to foek
counfel of God, and-to confult about building a place of
worihip at Calcutta: the opportunity was comfortable.
Dec. 3 1.
T h is evening brother* Carey, Captain
Sandys, brother Marfiiman and family, and filler Rolt,
arrived from Calcutta. Our brethren confulted fome
friends about a place of worihip: they advifed us to take a
houfe: brother Marihman enquired very diligently, and
found one in a good iituation: the rent demanded is 120
rupees per month. W e have converfed much upon the
556
fabjeft. Yefterday Petumber, fen. arrived from Sobkfau*
gur, bringing with him a man named Ram Dafs, whom we
hope the Lord has given him as the fruit of his labour in
that place.
Ja n . i. 1803. T his morning Captain Sandys return­
ed to Calcutta, accompanied by brother Marihman, to en­
gage the houfe which we refoJved upon ; trufting in God
to fee us through the expence, which we fuppofe at firft
will fall principally upon, ourfelves.
Ja n . 2. Lord’s day. Ram Dafs would have been
baptifed .to-day, but the brethren wiihed to know more of
him.—Kriftno has unhappily made a fchifm amongft us.
When Felix, Petumber, Ram Dafs, and I went this morn­
ing to worihip at his houfe, we found that he had already
begun the worihip himfelf. After finging I expe&ed he
would have left the management to me or Felix : but he
engaged in prayer, and afterwards began a kind of fermon j
©bferving that as this was the beginning of the year, he in­
tended to begin to preach. He divided his fermon into
two parts ; one of which, he iaid, was about the true Chrift,
and the other about the name Chrift. They clofed with
finging, and Kriftno prayed again. I was grieved at this
irregularity, and withdrew in filence. In the afternoon,
Kriftno proceeded ftill farther: he adm iniftered the Lord’s
fupper, and the native members attended. Kriftno’s zeal
appears to have been excited by jealoufy, from our having
fent Petumber to preach at Sookfaugur.
Ja n . 3. Brother Marihman went this morning to
Calcutta about the houfe ; but the owner wanted to raife
the rent fifty rupees per month : it was therefore declined.
T h e fame day brother Marihman heard of another houfe,
and engaged it for ninety rupees per month : we enter upon
it direitly. He alfo obtained leav.e of Mr. Baretto to oc­
cupy a piece of ground at Sookfaugur, where we intend to
build a hut for Petumber. T he brahmans there will be difappointed, as they thought to prevent his flaying amojigft
fhem*
357
Ja n . 4. T his day brother Carey and his Ton William
are gone a fortnight’s journey to Juggerdundakatty and
Ponchetalokphool.
Ja n . 5. Petumber fet off this morning with Ram
Dafs to Sookfaugur, and took with him thirty rupees to
build a houfe. He will there take up his abode, and try to
form an intereft for Chrift. Young Petumber came to-day,
either in pretence or in earneft, to confefs his iin, and en­
deavour to be united with us again.
Ja n . 6. Mr. Wood, and Mr. Hutteman, a ferious
European fchoolmafter at Calcutta, came up and dined
with us.
Ja n . 7. Petumber, jun. was at our experience meet­
ing this evening. W e talked to Droopodee about having
fellowfhip with Kriftno in his fchifm ; but ihe did not feem
confcious of her fault.
Ja n . 9. Lord’s day. This morning brother Marihman went to the Bengalee meeting-houfe : only young Pe­
tumber was there, to whom he expounded the parable of
the prodigal fon. In the afternoon he went again : firifc
Gokol came in, with whom brother M. Ihook hands for
the firft time fince his exclufion : Gokol feemed to take it
kindly. Afterwards Rafoo came, and made excufes for
Kriftno ; faying, they had not gone into idolatry, nor other
fuch fins. Brother Marihman (hewed the faalt of Kriftno
in doing what was irregular, and in doing it in an impro­
per fpirit. At length Gokol took the teftament out of
brother M .’s hand, and would have him go to Kriftno’s.
He afterwards confented, and found a young brahman
there, named Kriftno Prefaud, who had come from Dayhotta
for inftrucHon. In the evening our native brethren came
again to pur houfe.
Ja n . 10. T his forenoon Kriftno brought a byraggee,
named Boodheefa, who had come eight days’ journey, hav„
ing met with one of our fmall tra&s, and for fome time
judged with his acquaintance about this news. He proV
o l
.
II.
A a a
358
fdTed to be much pleafcd with what was told hitn, and fo
were his friends with the paper they had feen; but they
wanted fomebody to go and live with them,* and inftru£t
them in the ways of Chrift. Kriftno wiihed to go. T he
byraggee fays, that with him are thoufands in his country
Who have totally renounced the Hindoo and Muflulman
fhafters. It is faid that they were conne&ed with the
Ghofpara people in the life time of Dulol’s father; but
they now have nothing to do with them, as Dulol and his
people worihipped idols.
Ja n . 12. W e had a fermon to-day from Luke ii. 14 ,
on account of the peace in Europe. T he Governor and
many of tbe Danes were prefent.
Ja n . 16. Lord’s day. T his morning Felix and I
were at Kriftno’s. Brother Carey and William returned,
without being able to reach Juggerdundakatty and Ponchetalokphool. In the afternoon we went again to Kriftno’s^
and brother Carey converted with the two new people.
T hey are urgent for baptUm.j and one o f them, Boodheefa,
wants to go into his own country to talk to a great multi­
tude, who he fuppofes will gla«Hy receive the word.
Ja n . 20. Brother Carey brings word from Calcutta
to-day, that the iuccefs of the gofpel in one place on the
eoaft, is much greater than was at fisrft apprehended. A
king, and twenty-two towns, or villages, have at once
drowned, burnt, or trampled on their idols, and become
chriftians. W e hear alfo that Mr. Gericke has icnt a
chatechift to Ceylon, where thoufands have received the
chriftian name.
Ja n . 2 1. Boodheefa and Kriftno Prefaud were this
evening before the church, and are received for baptifm.
Their accounts, efpecially that of the latter, were pleafing.
•Kriftno and the reft were admonifhed for their fchifni;
he acknowledged his fault.
Ja n . 22. After dinner the two young converts were
baptifed in the river, in the prefence of a number of people.
A native of fome note came in his budgerow, and ftaid
359
en­
during the whole of the opportunity. It has fet people a
talking very much. One man aiked Kriftno why he did
not put on Engliih clothes j and not, by appearing as a
Hindoo, deceive the people, and take away their caft.
Others faid there was certainly fome power in the papers
which we gave away, and therefore many perfons had
reje&ed their caft j and they advifed one another not to let
their children read them. The young brahman, at my
requeft, took off his poitoo, and gave it me. This is a
more precious relic than aay the church of Rome could
bpaft.
Ja n . 23. Lard’s day. Brother Carey and Marihman
opened the houfe at Calcutta; but none attended except
two or three religious friends, though we only met for
worfhip when there is no fervice at church.
Ja n . 24. T his forenoon we were filled with joy on
receiving a letter from the fupercargo of the Monticello,
informing us that brother and fitter Chamberlain were
arrived near Calcutta, by the way of America.— In the
evening brother Carey made a very folemn and fuitable
addrefs to Kriftno and Boodheefa previous to their entering
on a preaching excurfion.
Ja n . 25. Brother Carey and I went down to Cal­
cutta this morning to meet the {hip Monticello, but re­
turned without finding it. In the evening we dined with
the fupercargo at Calcutta.
Ja n . 26. I went down again this morning, and
about noon met the Ihip: was much rejoiced at meeting
with brother and fifter Chamberlain. W e came to Cal­
cutta, found brother Carey, and proceeded to Mr. Rolt’s :
the tide not ferving, we ftaid all night at Calcutta. W e
were alfo refreibed by letters from America.
Ja n . 27. W e arrived at Serampore this morning
before the family were up: it was an hour of great joy.
In the evening we went to Kriftno’s : I catechifed the
children, and we fung three hymns in Bengalee: brother
A a a 2
360
Chamberlain joined us in “ Doya koro.” Our native
friends made enquiries whether our new brother and fitter
had left father, mother, brothers or fitters! I never faw
our native friends manifeft fuch attachment as on this
oceafion. Joymooni faid, te T hey cannot talk our lan­
guage 5 but we fee that all our hearts are one: we are
united in the death of Chritt.” Brother and litter
Chamberlain were deeply affeited during the whole of
the interview.
Ja n . 28. T his afternoon, fitter Marihman was fafely
delivered of a daughter. In the evening, after the experi­
ence meeting, we took leave of Kriftno and Boodheefa,
who are going a month’s journey, taking with them up­
wards of a thoufand printed traits for diftribution: they
waited to fee our brother and fitter Chamberlain.
The M IS S IO N A R IE S to the SO C IETY.
Dear Brethren,
Serampore, Jan. 29 , 1803.
A M ID S T all your and our anxieties for the caufe
o f Jefus in this country, (though perhaps neither your plans
and expectations nor ours have been realifed in the way we
imagined) we fee more and more that God is leading us in
the right w ay; and we are not permitted to doubt that he is
gradually laying the foundation of a temple in India, in
which ten thoufand thoufand voices ihall be heard, faying,
Blefsing, and honour, and glory, and power be unto Him wbo
Jitteth upon the throne, and t'> the Lamb fo r ever and ever /
W e will juft review a few of the principal circumltances in our affairs, by which you will know a little of
the travail and joy of our fouls.
THE
S C R IP T U R E S .
Befides the N ew Tettament, and the firft volume of
the Old, the Pfalms are finiihed, and part of Ifaiah. We
have reafon to hope that the fcriptures are a good deal read
in difterent places, and that their value is more and more
appreciated. W e continue to diftribute a number of Ben­
galee traits, and have alfo been diftributing one or two in
361
Engliih, which we hope will not be in vain. Our fount
of Nagaree types, which will enable us to print in the
Shanfcrit, but efpecially in the Hindoftannee language, is
nearly compleated : more than four hundred letters are cut
and caft, and they will coftus a good fum. W e have print­
ed feveral works in Bengalee for the College, which may
be very ufeful in acquiring the language and manners of the
country.
N A T IV E
BRETH REN
AND
S IS T E R S .
Petumber Sing bo is gone to Sookfaugur, a pretty large
place in a very populous neighbourhood, about twenty
miles diftant. He is building a fmall houfe, in order to
attempt to raife an intereft there; and has apparently been
ufeful to one man, who has been here for baptiim; Petumber in his late vifit to us, after having been about a month
at Sookfaugur, apeared to have grown much in fcriptural
knowledge and finglenefs of heart. The treafure which is
in the bible he feems to have apprehended j and fays, wher­
ever he opens this book, he finds fomething to do him good.
Krijino fays, he longs with his whole foul to com­
municate the gofpel to his countrymen. T he members of
his family alfo appear lively. Rafoo lately faid, after a
relation had been repeating a long tale of the mahabharet,
“ Ah, one line of the bible, containing the news of pardon,
is infinitely better than all that !”
Droopodee feems to maintain a confiderable attachment
to the gofpel. Her huiband, Petumber, jun. who is fufpended from our communion, has lately returned to us, and
confefles his fin, praying to be reftored.
Unna appears to walk circumfpe&ly.
Kemol, fince the exclufion of her huiband Gokolr has
either voluntarily or by conftraint abfented herfelf from
the means of grace. However, Gokol has for fome time
expreifed much repentance for his fins, and there are hopes
of his being reftored. Kemol fince then has attended upon
the gofpel.
Peroo and Bharut, though they appear to prefefve
their faith in Chrift, yet we fear they are not fo anxious as
S62
they ihould be about the means. Peroo fays he is obliged
to be much from home : and Bharut, being cook to fome
European, cannot have many opportunities of attending on
public ordinances.
Krijitto Prefand, a young brahman about nineteen, was
baptifed on faturday laft. T he word of Chrift’s death feems
to have gone into his heart, and he continues to receive the
word with meeknefs. He gave up his friends and his call
with much fortitude, and is the firft brahman who has been
baptifed. Hi« family live at Dayhatta, where brother
Carey fet his foot on ihore, and was kindly received by
M r. Short.
Boodheefa, a larce or byraggee, from Borobazar, about
eight days’ journey from Serampore, was alfo baptized on
faturday laft. Seeing one of our fmall tra&s in his own
country, he was induced to come hither and enquire. He
belongs to a body of people who have given up the world,
as they fay, in fearch of the true God ; having defpaired of
finding the way of life among Hindoos or Mulfulmans. He
feems to have received much joy in the news o f Chrift’s
death ; and in the moft preffing manner folicited for baptifot, that he might' go and make known the news in his
©wn country. He was born a MuiTulman, and is near
fofty years o f age.
ENQUIRES.
O f thefe, Byhonta, Monoo, and fome others, are gone
from us withont being admitted to baptifm. One or two
who appeared to be influenced by worldly motives, we did
not encourage to ftay at all. Komal> the brahman, who hag
been our Bengalee fchookaafter fince Petumber went to
Sookfaugur, has excited a good deal of attention to the gof­
pel in the neighbourhood, though he is not yet baptifed.
ffe profeffes to be very anxious that people may not
imagine he becomes a chriftian from worldly intereft:
he therefore tells them that he is about to become a chrif­
tian from convi&ion, and invites all the wife men among
the idolaters to ihew him whether they can find any way
36 $
•ofiy$><>■<«
of falvation among the Hindoos. W e dare not be confident
about K o m al; but we cannot help indulging a hope that he
is truly in earneft.
O P E N IN G S
FO R
THE
G O SPEL.
God has heard our prayers, and has given us an
entrance into Calcutta. W e have taken a houfe there, and
brother Carey and Marihman opened it on Lord's day laft.
T he expenfe of rent only is near 100 rupees a month:
fitting up will amount to about 200 rupees more. I f we
fliould not gather a congregation of Europeans, yet ft opens
a door to the natives; and we enter at once into the midfi:
of near a million of fouls, having the everlafting gofpel to
preach.— We cannot help indulging fome expe&ation o f
ufefulnefs at Sookfaugur, through the labours o f our dear
brother Petumber.— Kriftno and Boodheefa fet out this
morning on a journey, which we hope will not be in vain.
Boodheefa talks of many thoufands of people being pre­
pared to hear the gofpel in his country, whither they now
are gone; and feems to anticipate the idea with much
enthufiafm o f a church being planted, and worihip being
carried on there.
BENGALEE
S CHOOL .
W e are juft finiihing a very good brick fchool-houfe»
which the benevolence of the public here has enabled us to
ere&, with a houfe alfo for the teacher. Nearly thirty
Bengalefe and Portuguefe are here taught the Bengalee and
Englifh language.
Our means of Cupport have hitherto kept pace with
our wants, which for ourfelves are not very great; but for
the printing of the fcriptures, the eftabliihment of the
fchooi, and for the formation of the whole fettlement
have been very confiderable. As the caufe begins to
extend, another fource of expenfe is arifing. Petumber at
Sookfaugur receives a fmali ftipend as a native miflionary.
Kriftno’s family alfo, during his journey, muft be aflifted.
The attempt at Calcutta is at prefent expenfive, though
God may raife us up friends there who will not let the
364
whole fall on the miffion eventually. Our Englilh fchool
has.gradually, encreafed, till at length we have thirty-two
boarders.
W e have I?een blefled with uninterrupted health, un­
interrupted love, and uninterrupted fupplies of every
earthly comfort. W e have very much wanted the help .of
one or two more brethren; but on thurfday our brother
and lifter Chamberlain arrived to our great joy, and we
defire to be thankful for this addition to our number. May
God alfo give us native brethren full of the holy Spirit, and
plentifully fpour out the fame on the inhabitants of Bengal!
Finally, dear brethren, we allure you that our refidence in this idolatrous nation has ferved to heighten
exceedingly our regard for the word of God. Oh, how
applicable to our circumftances, on many occafions, are the
inftru&ions of our Saviour, and the epiftles of the apoftles
to the churches juft gathered from the heathen ! How glo­
rious is the example of Chrift, when oppofed to the condu&
of Hindoo faviours ! How fublime are the do&rines, how
pure the morality of the gofpel, when contrafted with the
doctrines and holinefs contained in the writings and ex­
hibited In the lives of the pureft Hindoos! And above all,
how infinitely worthy of God does the plan of redemption
appear, when we compare it with the devices of the heathen !
Therefore, feeing we have this minijiryy as we have received
mercy, we fa in t not. T he doitrine of Chrift crucified is that
which in almoft every inftance has fixed the attention of thofe
who have been gathered here. It is appealed to by our na­
tive friends on all occafions, as that which in itfelf alone is
fufficient to demonftrate that Jefus is the Saviour of the
world. United in thefe glorious truths, and in this bleiTed
work on earth, oh that we may at length meet you in the
worlds of light—you with many, many Engliih; and we
with many, many Hindoos and Muffulmans, redeemed by
the blood of the Lam b!
Farewell.
W. CAREY,
M A R SH M A N ,
W. W ARD,
J . C H A M B E R L A IN .
365
■*e>eyo*Mr. CA REY to Dr RYLA N D .
Calcutta, Feb. 9. *803.
I H A V E been much troubled with a violent cough
throughout the greateft part of this cold feafon, and it is
now very bad, attended with a troublefome fpafmodic affec­
tion of the breaft. I hope the warm feafon will remove
it, though I fully expeft it to return at intervals as long
as 1 live. That excepted, I have good health j and all
our family are alfo well. T he paft year, and the begin­
ning of the prefent, have been loaded with bleffings to us,
though attended with fome difficulties. Particulars you
will learn from the general letter.
In the beginning of January I went a fortnight into
the eaft country, intending to have paid a vifit to the peo­
ple at Ponchetalokphool, and Juggerdundakatty; but was not
able to reach either of thefe places. However, I had
many opportunities of publiibing the word, and diftributing pamphlets as I went along. I found the people every
where acquainted with our names, refidence, defigns, and
books. Some oppofed ; but many heard attentively.
Laft week a letter was received from fome natives at
Chinfurah, a Dutch fettlement, inviting us to go and ex­
plain the way of life to them. Accordingly, brother W ard
and myfelf went over on faturday, and took with us the
newly baptifed brahman, Kriitno Prifaud. W e found them
to be people of fome refpe&ibility in the world. T h ey
are bitter enemies to brahmanifm, and are followers of
Chytunya Nitta, a man who, tlyeeor four hundred years ago,
fet up a new fed in Bengal; reprobated the diftin&ion of
eafts, and the various idols worihipped by the Hindoos. W e
talked to thefe people till nearly night, and afterwards gave
away in the market-place fome teftaments, and a great
number o f fmall tra&s. W e returned home, not without
hopes that this vifit may prove ufeful.
W . C.
V o l . II.
B b b
365
M r. WARDrs JO U RN A L,
(From Jan. 30, to May 3, 1803.)
WeieSea»-'Ja n . 30, 1803. Lord’s day. Ycfterday, brethren
Carey, Marfhman, and .Chamberlain dined with the Go­
vernor, 011 occafion of the birth-day of his Daniih Majefty.
Brother Chamberlain preached to-day in english : brother
Carey vifited ¿hebrethren: Felix preached at night in bengalee.
Feb. 3. Moraud is arrived from Ponchetalokphool,
bringing a letter with him. Some people at Chinfurah alfo
lent a letter to-day, inviting one of us to go and talk with
them about the gofpdi.
Feb. 4. Brother Carey brought a letter from M r.
Burls to M r. Buchanon, announcing the arrival of eight
boxes from England.— KLriftno Prifaud, the young brah­
man lately baptifed, went down to Calcutta one day this
Week, and called upon his friends, who had held a counfel,
and fent a perfon to Serampore to enquire after him. They
had heard that a brahman and a byraggee had been baptifed:
he boldly acknowledged that he was become a chriftian.
T h ey were exceedingly angry j broke the hooka which
they had given him to fmoke with, and ordered him off.
Finding that he was alone, and that they were very much en­
raged againfthim, he thought it beft to make good his retreat.
Feb, 5. To-day brother Carey and 1 went to Chinfurab, and talked to them fome time about the way of life.
T h ey are a refpectable family, followers *of a byraggee,
named Cfaytunyah, who is faid to have been incarnate at
Nuddea about 300 years ago. T h ey defpife brahmanifrti,
but are very opinionated in their own way. On our return
we diftributed many papers among the croud in Chinfurah
market.
,
:
Feb. 6. Lord's day. T w o perfons arrived from Sookfaugur with a letter from Pet umber: one of them feems to
feel an imcreft in the gofpel. Brother Carey has a bad
cough. Mrs. Thomas feems to decline very faft. Mr.
Dexter is very ill.
367
Feh. g. Brother Chamberlain and I returned thi&day
from Sookfaugur. Petumber’s, houfe is nearly ready,: he ajvpears to grow much in experience and fcripture knowledge.
I prayed in his new houfe: ph that, it may become the houfe
of the living God Feb. i i . Moraud is defirous of being baptifed. He
fays that Neeloo, the old; man, has no fear about his caft,
and tha,t he is decidedly in favour of the gofpel. There ar§
ftill fome hopes that we may have a church formed at Ponchetalokphool.
Feb. 13. Lord!s day. Brother Chamberlain preached
at Calcutta : in the morning no ftrangers. attended ; and ija
the evening, with friends, there were about fifteen hearers.
On account of brother Carey’s cough, brother Marihman.
preached in englifli and bengalee. T w o o f us went to Buddabatty, where we met with much careleiTnefs and npife.
W e faw two men who apprehended the perfons on fufpicipn
of killing our friend Syam Dofs, and I enquired the refult.
They faid, the people were acquitted, as no proof could be
fubftantiated agairift them.
Feb. 14. Kriftijoand Boodheefe returned to-day i the
latter bringing his wife and fon with him. T hey talked
with many of the natives on their journey, had a pleafant
interview with thofe at Ghofparra and Ponchetalokphool,
and gave away all their teftamenis and pamphlets.
Feb. tH. W c have had with us the old brahman from
Khorda, another from the neighbourhood o f Sookfaugur, &c.
Yefterday a muflulmau who faid he had neither father npr
mother, and that his brother had turned him out, came from,
Nuddea, fuppofing we fhould buy his caft. iyaflinaut, a
brahman from the country of young Petumber, has alfo
been here feveral days. He profeffes to be fully perfuaded,
of the truth of the gofpel, but .has fears about his caft.
Sbeetaram, a weaver^ who has been here once or twice, came
again to-day : he lives at JeiTore. Kriftno takes in all thefe
enquirers from time to time: they are entertained for a day
B b b 2
368
or two at our expence, and inftructed; and then* according
ter their impreffions, they either return home, or come for­
ward for bapcifm.
Feb. 19. This morning Kriftno came and told us of
a converfation which he had with Kaifinaut and Sheetaram,
in which he ufed this iimile : “ T he Hindoos, when they
have built a new houfe, coniider it unclean and untenable
till they have performed an offering; and then they take
up their abode in it. So God j he does not dwell in earthly
temples, however magnificent: his refidence is in the heart.
But how fhall he dwell with man ? T he facrifice of Chrift
muft be offered : then the houfe, the heart, in which this
facrifice is received, becomes the habitation of God, through
the Spirit!”
Feb. 20. Lord’s day. Brother Carey preached in
englifh and bengalee: brother Marfhman went to Kriftno’s
in the morning, and to Calcutta in the afternoon : brother
Chamberlain catechifed : Felix and I went to Kriftno’s in
the afternoon, I converfed with Sheetaram : he wiihes to
be baptifed. I hope this fimple man has fome faith in Chrift,
and dependance on him for falvation. Boodheefa wiihes
his wife to be baptifed.
Feb. 2 1. T his day, brother Carey went down to Cal­
cutta : he has more ftudents this term, and the other tutors
teach every day in the week. -He is therefore obliged to
teach four days in the week, and to be one day more at
Calcutta. W e feel his abfence to be a great lofs to us, as
the affairs of the million are growing more and more
weighty, and there is great need for our being often to­
gether to confult on the different cafes of the native con­
verts, both temporal and fpiritual. I am fometimes bowed
down with miffionary cares. T h is day we have had much
converfation with Boodheefa refpe&ing his worldly profpedts : he wiihes to cultivate a little ground, and rear filkworms ; but the cxpenfe would be more than we could anfwer for, and we are defirous to avoid fuch a precedent. We
afterwards converfed with Sheetaram, who gave a very
ftmple though pleafing account of his faith in Chrift.
369
•»«»OO«*'
Feb. 25. F elix Carey has lately been poorly with an
affe&ion of the lungs: this evening he has a good deal of
fever, and oppreffion of the ftomach, with a bad cough. I
am alarmed, left it ihould be the beginning of a confumption. On wednefday, brother Carey had a meeting
for Bengalees at Calcutta: about ten of them and fome
Portuguefe attended.
Feb. 26. This afternoon Sheetaram gave an account
of his converfion, and was received by the church. He is
a middle-aged fooder from Jeffore, where he has a fifter
and a fmall hut: he has been among the Ghofparrahites, and
has a number of friends of his way of thinking. When he
left home, his fifter faid to him, u Ah, brother! You are
going; but I cannot walk fo far. What (hall I d o ?” He
comforted her by faying that one of us would go to their
houfe, and then ihe might be baptifed.
Feb. 27. Lord’s day. Sheetaram was baptifed in the
river this morning. Mr. and Mrs. Creighton, and Mr.
Ellerton, happening to be at our houfe from Gomalty,
were fpe&ators ; many natives alfo were prefent. After
baptifing, I went down to Calcutta, and had a congregation
of fourteen perfons in the evening.
Feb. 28. Felix is fome what better, and is going out
upon the river every day this week. Brother Carey’s
cough is alfo better. «Sifter Marihman is poorly.
M ar. 4. T h is week brother Carey had feveral native
hearers on wednefday evening, and feveral Europeans on
tljurfday evening at Calcutta.
M ar. 5. Our native brethren are not fatisfied with
Petumber ju n .: they charge him with profeffing Chriti:
with his mouth, but going after ftrange and impure gods in
his heart, and in fecret. Kriftno fays, that amongft the
worfhippers of Kailee there is a cuftom of men fetting up
their own wives as the reprefentative o f this goddefc, and
worfhipping them. Our friends alfo now fay, that the^difagreements between Petumber and his wife have been much
occafioned by this circumftance: he wiihes to turn away
her mind from Chrift, and to worfhip her as the reprefenta-
37$
t*ye of
refufes j ; and he qt^rrjefe with
in
Cfipfcftiwnse. On fa r in g this account, \$e r$iu&gl hj&
bfing adgu&gi;. again aawuvgft W* and a&noni&ed him
accorilipgly.-r-Ip the evening we had a chnrch-meeting:
th$, acxoqig reipe&ingGokol was much »n his favour, aad
v ^ ag ay i received him. H eandhis wife live much more
happily than formerly, and his mind appears more tender*
6.
Lord’s day. I preached from, Do t&s in
rtmmbrqnce $ trn: in tbs afternoon brother Carev administwed tlje Lord’s iupsper to twenty-fix communicants. Sifter.
3$.qlt,apdbrother Fernanda and Dexter, were abfent; and
ypyng Petumber was only a, fpeclatpr. Brother Marfhman
w,as at J^riifynp’s in the morning; and brother Carey catechjfed* or rather took an accout of the fermon from the
children. In the evening he gave out a hymn, and read a
chapter; after which old Petumber preached in bengalee
t$; a congregation, of Hindoos, M,uflulmans, Armenians,
Feringahs, Engliih, & c. His text was a (mail pamphlet of
c,‘gh$ pages o f his own writing, which we priced for him.
After praying for a ihorr time with fervour and confiftency,
he i^t d o ^n ; a#d with his hands joined together and
Wretched out, he craved their attention. He then.fpoke for
aft hour with faithfulnefs and much propriety, and clofed
tfre whgle with prayer. W e were much pleafed with this
firft attempt. He is the firft Hindoo who has become a
preacher. T h is is another new xra in the miffion, for
^hiqh
have reafon to blefs God : oh that he may increafe the number of faithful native labourers! T his is the
grand defideratujn that into move, the Hindoo nation. Mr.
Forfyth preached for us at Calcutta.
M ar. 8, T h is evening a man b r ig h t fix letters from
jytara^d, ^ho.is gone to live at another place, where he 4«
defirous of building a houie for preaching and teaching'
Chrift Jefus ; lie has talked about the gofpel, and excited a
good deal of enquiry. Boodheefa left us yeftcrday, promifing to return in about a month: his wife was much
djfpleafed becauie we did not baptife her. Sheetaram re-
371
¿timed hotoie ’this morning : hiB mind appears tobc in'*
good ftate. On "Lord*s dây, after dinner, we difcuffed the
fubjeft refpe&ing the duty of a baptifed native, I f he haVe
more than one wife. Finding the queftion fomewhat dif­
ficult, we agreed to repeat the difcuffion every Lord’s daf
till vre had obtained fome fatisfa&ion.* T h is evening
brother Marihman and I attended the funeral ôf a EuropeaiV,
being inVited to officiate oft this occafion.
M ar. 10 . Yeüerdaÿ brother Marihman fet out for
Pdnchetalokphool, and to fee Moraud. He travels in thfc
palanquin, and calls at Sookfaugur : K riftnôis gone With
hitn on foot;—On receiving a paper yefterdaÿ, which is
font round the fettlement, inviting Europeans to attend on
la European funeral, I wrote to the Danifh fecrefâpy, in­
forming him that as there was no other jfcnoteftant ifiihtfter
at Serampore, ohe o f us would attend any funeral, if agree­
able to him and the gentlertien o f the fettlement, withodt
wilhing for any fée or reward, f i e accepted o f ourfervicesj and I attended the funeral this evening, *re'ad fome
portions of fcfipture, arid prayed at the grave. On thefe
occafiotis the fecretary, Who feems to have the management
of all European funerals, ufed to put a little earth into the
grave, repeating fotine kind of dcixology, and then the
attendants came aMiray, Without any other ceremony. "Euro­
peans feem to foel nothing on thefe occafions ; but Will talk
arid jelke While following a Cdfpfe,- as though they Were
going to bury a dog. Very few Europeans have any friends
to pMy ‘the Ikft offices to their remains ; arid many-leave
behind'them none blit children of Whom they werealhamed,
and a tiâtive miftrefs, who at the time t>f receiving vifits
• Dr. ‘Doddridge, In a note on i T im . HL a, obiertes, th at as there is
no exprefii precept in the bfble requiring a man wHo t a d feveral Vives at th«
time of hi» embracing çhriftianity, to divorce ordifmil« all btot one, the divine
wj/dom might judge that it was a proper mediuntj between encouraging f» lj*
gamy and too great a rigour in condann 'mg it, to fix fach a brand of infamy o a
tius irfegular prn&ice, b y prohibiting any man, let bis charaSer be ever i>
eïtraorfllnaïy, to undertake the minlftry while he bad more than cni w /i. arid
to difcourage it in tbofc already coaverted by fuch pxfilgés a» fldatt. xix. ^
and i Cot. vii. a.
S72
r++t>0 *was (hut up in a corner cupboard. After the funeral, I
went up to Kriftno’s, and heard the catechifm of Kriftno
Prefaud, Roop, Onunda, and Kefaree. T he two laft arc
Kriftno’s daughters ; the one about twelve, and the other
about feven years of age. At the end of catechifing,
Onunda firft, and Kefaree afterwards very earneftly re­
queued to be baptifed; faying, they knew there was no
other Saviour but Jefus Chrift. Kefaree faid, “ I am a
little child; but my foul is not little: and 1 have heard that
in Europe, children o f five years old have been faved.”
Rafoo and Joymooni both faid that thefe two children daily
wifhed for baptifm. I promifed to lay their requeft before
the brethren.
M ar. 19. W e refolved this evening that Kriftno (hould
be employed in going out as an itinerant as much as poffible;
and as he fpends much time at home in talking with en­
quirers, we agreed to allow him twelve rupees a month
jphen out, and fix rupees at home. A young man of the
writer caft, named Ram Rotten, came this week from Cal­
cutta- In the hurry of bufinefs he had like to have gone
away without being fpoken to; but after he had left the
boufe I feat Kriftno Prefaud after him, who after fome
converfatipn found him defirous of hearing the gofpel. Preiaud conducted him to Kriftno’s, and there he remains.—
Brother Marihman is returned from Ponchetalokphool,
Juggetdundakatty, &c. Several perfons there feem willing
to be baptifed; but if they (hould, the village barter, forfooth, will not (have them! When a natiye lofes caft, or
becomes unclean, his barber and his prieft will not come
near him j and as they are accuftomed to ihave the head
nearly all over, and cannot well perform this bufinefs themfelves, it becomes a ferious inconvenience.
M ar. 24.. A letter was received to-day from Pon­
chetalokphool, informing ms that one of our native friends
had been put into confinement at a neighbouring village by
a. native Talookdar, or tax-gatherer, for fpeaking o f the
gofpel. W e immediately fent the letter to brother Carey
„
573
at Calcutta, who íheWfcd it to Mr. Buchanan, and Mr.
Bl&quiete, a gentleman o f the polite, w hô -advifed us 'W
w rite to the magiftrate o f the diftfi£fc.
M »t. 28. Boòdhesfa arrived t&-day from his own court*
try, and his brother with him : he givtìs a piëafirtg account
of his journey. He fotënd that Seebfam-dàfs of Jiiggerdundakatty had wrkteil to his difciples in other places, warn-ing them agaûrtft the gofpel, and telling them that if theÿminded the gofpel they would have pigs* faces, and go to
hell for a long timé after death !—Ram Roteen is ftill with
us : he belongs to a rfefpe&able family of caeftbes.— Brea­
ther Fernandez, has made a preient to the miffion o f thè
twenty pounds given him by a lady or two in Englaftd>«I called on Mrs. Thomas yëfterday : (he feems to be ih thè
laft liage of a decay, but I hope (he is the fubjeft of true
religioni
A ffil I . A man of the name of Tafcoo came tò Òuf
houfe this week.— Brother Carey brings word from Cal¿
cutta that at the public examination before the Governor*
the Bengalee ftudents came off with great honour. Mb.
Colebrooke has offered to lend brother Carey all the vades
which he has been able to procure, if we will print themî
and this we have promifed to do.— MrS. Thomas is very
near death.
Apr. 2. T h is evening Sadutfa, (Boodheefa’s brother)
Ram Rotten, and William Cany came before the church, and
were accepted for baptifm: their accounts afforded us
pleafure.
A pr. 3. t/ord’s day. W e met this morning between
fix and (even o’clock, to blefs God for his mercies towards
us. Mr. Dexter and Mr. Rolt arrived before breakfaft.
The former has taken a houfe at Calcutta, and offers it to
us to preach ini ; the principal room will hold nearly two
hundred pôffons j and being backwards, is attended With
lefs noife and interruption than the other, and the rent w ill
be thirty-two rupees a month lefs than what we now have
V o l . II.
C cc
374
to'give. It >s in a good fituation, and we have promifed to
take it when our fix monthsfor the other ihall be expired«
Mr.- Edmonds preached for us at Calcutta. Brother Carey
preachcd in engliih : after which we went to the river fide,
and ftood under an awning, where he gave out a hymn,
(.*f-Ke arro” ) fpoke, and prayed in bengalee. Then Sadutfa, Ram Roteen, and William Carey were baptifed. As
William afcended the banks o f the river, I gave out, “ in
all my Lord’s appointed ways,” & c. Sadutfa, who is a
farmer, feems to be a very fimple and fincere man: Ram
Roteen is a fine handfome young man, who appears anxious
after knowledge: William improves much, and 1 hope
w ill become ufeful. In the afternoon we had a lovely com­
pany at the Lord’s table. Our anxiety to obtain converts
to Chrift feems now to be changed into anxiety about thofe
who are obtained, that they may be chriftians indeed.
Though I fee no irregularity among our friends, yet I
fear they do not perceive all the folemnities o f the Lord’s
fupper; and I imagine it was much fo with the Corin­
thians.
Apr. ¿r T his morning early we went to attend the
wedding o f Kriftno Prifaud with Oitunda, Kriftno’s fecond daughter. Kriftno gave him a piece of ground ad­
joining hts dwelling, to build him a houfe, and we lent Prifaud fifty rupees for that purpofe, which he is to return
monthly ^ out of his wages. W e therefore had a meeting
M r prayer in this new houfe, and many neighbours were
prefent.
Five hymns were fung: brother Carey and
Marihman prayed in bengalee. After this we went under
an open (hed clofe to die houfe, where chairs and mats
.were provided: here friends and neighbours fct all
around. Brother Carey fat at a table ; and after a (bort
kitrodu&ion, in which he explained the nature of marriage,
and noticed the impropriety o f the Hindoo cuftoms in this
re lie d , he read- 2 Cor. vi. 14— 18, and alfo the account
o f the marriage at Cana. Then he read the printed marriage-agreemeiit, at the clofe o f which Kriftno Prifaud and
375
-M» e * ©nunda, with joined hands, one after the other, promifed
love, faithfulnefs, obedience, &c. T hey then figned the
agreement, and brethren Carey, Marihman, Ward, Cham­
berlain, Ram Roteen, &c. figned as witneffes. T he whol£
was clofed with prayer by brother Ward. Everything
was condu&ed with the greateft decorum, and it was almeft
impolfiWe not to have been pleafed. W e returned home to
breafcfaft, and fent the new-married couple fome fugarcandy, plaintains, and raifins: the firft and laft of tbefe
articles had been made a pre fent of to us, and the plaintains
were the produce of the mifiion garden. In the evening
we attended the monthly prayer-meeting.
Apr. 5. This evening we all went to fupper at Krift­
no’s, and fat under the {bade where the marriage ceremony
had been performed. Tables, knives and forks, glaffes, See.
having been taken from our houfe, we bad a number of ben­
galee plain diíhes, confifting of curry, fried fifli, vegetables,
&c., and I fancy molt of us ate heartily. T his is the firft
inftance of our .eating at the houfe of our native brethren.
At this table we all fat with the greateft cheerfulnefs, and
fome of the neighbours looked on with a kind of amaze­
ment: It was a new and very fingular fight in this land
where clean and unclean is fo much regarded. W e ihould
have gone in the day-time, but were prevented by the heat
.and want of leifure. W e began this wedding fupper with
finging, and concluded with prayer: between ten and eleven
we returned home with joy. T h is was a glorious triumph
over the caft ! A brahman married to a fooder, in the chriftian way í Engliihmen eating with the married couple and
their friends, at the fame table, and at a native houfe. A l­
lowing the Hindoo chronology to be true, there has not been
fuch a fight in Bengal thefe millions of years!
Apr. 6. Boodheefa, and his brother Sedutfa, went
home this morning. After commending them to the grace
of God by prayer, we took leave, hoping to fee them again
ihortly. It is painful for us to fend away perf<jps who have
C c 2
9? S
eeceiv§,d fo little inftru£ion, to places where there are no
but where all is wild hcatheaifm; yet there is do
alternative ; they cannot all abide at Serampore.
v . Apr, jo . Lord’s day. Felix and I were at Kriftno’s.
in t&? ow ning : brother Marihman fpoke in epglifti. Our
ij&ive biethrep, by our advice, had alio a meeting among
t&emfelves in the qH<$dle of the day : Kriftno fpoke a little
cm the fubjeft of Peter’s repentance: Kriftno Prifaud
read. tbf? word* ai*d the reft confifted of {inging and prayer.
. 1a
afteinooa I catechifed: brother Carey a$d Marihma# wer^ ao^opgft the brethren: and in the evening I
preached in bengalee- Kriftno (aw a man to-efcy who told
ixiffi, tfca* afcei the journey which Kriftuo, Felix and I took
down the river to Tumlook, above a year ago, fome people
at a village called, Qotabanga, having got our papers, had
renounced tfeeir aid way, and were beginning fomething
syssordi^g to their own nations qf the gofpel. Brother
Chamberlain preached at Calcutta this« evening. Mrs.
Tfaw #5 4ied Qn W^dpefiday laft: ifee has appointed a Mr.
\> Qarding her executor.
^ ^ 7*
4$ r . 1 7. Load’s, day. Laft week two perfons came
fjrom Chiniur^h to enquire about the goipel, and the old
hrahmaa from Khorda was with us two different days. He
f$ys that he is quite ready for baptifro, and wonders that
we will opt receive bio».—Brother Carey was twice at
j&triftno’s.: brother
at Cajcutt^a: 1 preached in
e ^ ilh i and Felix in. bengalee.
Apfr, %$. Monday lfift was a horrible d ay; the cherokPQojah. Three women burnt wijth their huiband on one
p$p neajT our houfe 1 Mtfs Rumohr has pre&nted us with
the araouuc of one njonth’s rent of our place of worship at
Calcutta, and Mr. RoJfe has promifed to give another:
osthetwite the whole expejpce has hitherto fallea. upon us.
I^aA week fever,al wandering fingers, of a certain qaft, were
at Kriftm^s. I talked to» them for fome tim e: hut I do not
recoiled): ever hearing Kriftno fp&fc fo boldiy and fo, well
uf on this occafion. He brought the truth home to the
377
-*e>€>«►*•
confcience, and preifed the exclufive proofs of Chrift being
the only Saviour with much force, though I fear with lUtl»
effect on thefe determined believers in the efficacy of the
same of Hurry. Thefe people had been at Kriftno’s fome
days before , and among them was a boy who appeared to
be fo much affe&ed with wbat Kriftno faid, that he refolded
to go home and get leave of his father to come to Seraav*
pore, and become a chriitian : at this time he was gone
home for that purpofe, T his day Kriftno Prifaud went to
Calcutta to talk to fome of bis friends. Before he went, he
told me that he thought of going out on a Lord’s day to
fpeak the word in the neighbouring villages* A bleffed
thought !
Apr. 19. To-day, Kriftno is gone a jo u rn ^ into
Burdwan. A t prefent, though brother Carey goes once
a week to the place of worfhip at Calcutta to fpeak in
bengalee, yet fcarcely any natives attend; nor do I much
expe& it till a little more ftir is raifed, or fome native
brother goes to preach. T he conference meeting at M r.
Holt’s is not encreafed, but rather diminiihed. Our Lord*sday evening meetings at Serampore, in bengalee, are
attended by none but native brethren and the fervants of
our family, except now and then a ftraggler creeps in.
Apr. 23. T he boy who went to confult his father
returned to Kriftno’s yefterday : but this morning fome of
his old acquaintance have dragged him off, and carried hijn
away. Our native friends gave us notice of it; but we
cannot think of refcuing him by any other means than by
prayer. T h is day Kriftno Prifaud, Ram Roteen, and
Neelao, (young Petumber’s brother) went to Buddabatty,
where they began to preach the gofpel in the ftreet.
Meeting with every kind, o f indignity and abufe, they
retired to a houfe, and read, and talked, and prayed: a
number of perfons heard them, and made them promife
to come again the next day. A ll kinds of vile abufe and
threatenings were heaped upon them by the mob.
378
Apr. 14 . Lord’s day. Brother /Chamberlain preached
at home, and Ward at Calcutta : brother Carey was amongft
the brethren, and preachcd at night. Kriftno Prifaud, Ram
Roteen* and others were at Buddabatty, where they met
with violent oppoimon. T h ey were fet upon as fcringahs,
asdeftroyers o f thecatt, as having eaten fowls, eggs, &c.
As they attempted to return, the mob began to beat them,
putting their hands on the back of their necks and puihing
them forward ; and one man, even a civil officer, grazed
die point of a fpear againft the body of Kriftno Prifaud.
When they faw that they could not make our friends angry
by fttch treatment, they faid, Y ou fitlla ; you will not be
angry, will you? T hey then infulted them again, threw
cow dung mixed in gonga water at them ; talked of making
them a necklace of old fhoes, beat Neeloo with Ram
Rpteen*s lhoe &c. ; and declared that i f they ever came
s^gajn, they would make an end of them. T h ey replied,
that even infults, and ftripes, and death were good to them:
their only concern was that God would turn their hearts,
and make them better ! They faid, they were only come t°
do what every other fe& did; all the Hindoos and Mufljilmans performed their poojahs in the ftreets : befides, they
were come by invitation from an inhabitant of the place.
As they were about to depart, they attempted to pray ; but
the multitude began with one confent to hoot and clap their
hands, in order to drown their voice: fo they were obliged'
to come away without being permitted to pray for thofe
who thirfted for their bloodl
Apr. 25. T his morning Sheetaram, his filler Oomoree,
a man named Golaub,*and a woman named Khaymee, came
to Serampore ; the three laft with a defire to hear the gofpci, and i fuppole ultimately with a view to baptifm.
Yeftenday i railed to fee Mifs Thomas at Calcutta, hav­
ing heaid that ihe was poorly: fhe appeared to bear her
mother's death with much compofure, but is now very
ill. She is at M r. Brown’s, a painter, who came frorrç
England jn the fame flüp with Mrs. Thomas; is kindly
379
treated, and has the beft medical advice. Kriftno Prifaud,
Ram Roteen, and Neeloo having been fo much bruifed
by the ill treatment at Buddabatty, ftaid at home all this
day, and could not come to work. Yefterday at Calcutta
Ram Boihoo called upon me at brother Carey’s lodgings,
by appointment. I wiihed to engage him to write for us a
life of Chrift in bengalee rhyme, to give away, in the hope
it might be ufeful. T he Hindoos have been ufed to fcarcely
any thing but poetry ; aad in confequence the bible is more
ftrange, and unacceptable to them. They have their hiftories of Ram, Chreeihno, &c. in poetry; and it is probable
that thefe poems have contributed more than any thing elfe
to fix and difieminate the peculiar notions and cuftoms of
the Hindoos. Rain Boihoo was of the fame opinion, and
entered very cheerfully into the work, promifing to devote
his nights to it till it was accomplifhed. I afked him about
his own hopes. He faid, he had no hope of falvation, if he
died now: yet when he thought of the pain he felt when
the gofpel was derided, and of his pleafure when it was
fpoken well of, he could not but hope that at fome future
day he Ihould become a difciple o f Chrift.
A pr. 26. Kriftno returned to-day, having been a very
confiderable diftance, bearing the tidings of the Saviour,
talking as opportunity offered, and giving away tracte.
Rafoo has juft informed me that they had heard that the
"poor boy who had been taken from their houfe on faturday
was confined at home j that he refufed to eat, and was conftantly repeating the name of Chrift. His friends wonder
how Kriftno’s family can have bewitched him in fuch a
manner ! T he woman who came with Boodheefa, and after­
wards with Tazoo, has been at Kriftnp’s ever fince fee
came the laft time.' Rafoo fays, ihe cries for baptifm ; and
laments that while others have been baptifed in fifteen days,
(he has waited 'backward and forward for three months.
The woman’s vname is Radhamonee: her fon, a fine boy,
is in the bengalee fchool. T azoo has repeatedly aiked to
be baptifed.
sso
♦~o-o^e>Jp r. 27. Felix is again much arftcAed in his longs,
md has a bad cough. To-morrow morning he goes down
to Calcutta, to confult his father on the fubjett: we are all
afraid for him, left he fhould become confumptive.
Apr. 28. Brother Carey had nearly twenty Portuguefe to hear him laft night in bengalee, at our place of
worihip in Calcutta. On a thurfday evening, in englifh,
he has frequently a tolerable company o f Europeans; and
I hear that he enjoys himfelf pretty well.
Apr. 30. T h is day old Petumber arrived from Sookfaugur. He is an excellent man, and has met with much
oppofition : however, we cannot yet defpair of fruit from
his miniftry. He has been amongft our native brethren to­
day, inquiring into the faith in Chrift of ieveral new con­
verts.— Brother Chamberlain went out to-day with Kriftno
Prifaud, and Ram Roteen, as a kind of guard to them in
village preaching, left any ibould fet on them to do them
harm.
May 1. Lord’s day. T h is morning we had a church
meeting, when Tazoo, Radkamonee and Oomoree were receiv­
ed. Golaub andKhaymee, on account of fome circumftances
which did notaffeft their charafler, and only of a temporary
nature, were not brought forward at this time. About ten
o’clock thefe three perfons were baptifed. Brother Carey
preached in engliih from, He Jhall[prinkle many nations. In
the afternoon we received the Lord’s fupper; and in the
evening, old Petumber preached a moft cutting fermon from
Rom. ii. 10. Mr. Forfyth preached for us at Calcutta.
May 2. W e have taken Kriftno entirely from his
worldly concerns, in order to employ him conftandy in
making known the gofpel. Felix is a little better.
May 3. T his morning, after commending Sheetaram
Tazoo, Golaub, Khayoiee, Oomoree, and old Petumber to
the grace of God, we took leave. Brother Chamberlain,
Kriftno Prifaud, and Ram Roteen arc gone out again
to-day.
asi
EXTRACTS
or a
LETTER,
From M r, W ARD to a YOUNG M IN IST ER ,
'’
WHO HAD BEEN ' I f l S IN T IM A T E F JU E X D W I 1E N IN EN G L A N D .
-» © « —
Scrampore, M ay — 1S 0 3 .
L E T the example of P e a r c e , in Dublin, be conftantly before you. How he laboured there— how faithful
he was to fa&ionable profeflors— how anxious to recom­
mend prayer meetings. Keep this conftantly in mind*
You may preach twice a week, and have a great name
among certain kinds o f chriftians, for orthodoxy or ora­
tory j but you are a minifter of the gofpel fo far exactly as
your zeal, your gifts, your efforts, and condu&, are calcu­
lated to produce the conrerfion of fouls. I would.not difcard doftrinal fermons j but I have feen or heaTd few that
had a devotional or praftical tendency; and that in which
there is neither devotion nor practice is rather worfe than
nothing. I confefs I am exceedingly guilty that I do.not
ftudy my bible more; yet the more I apply it to the tem­
pers and condu£fc of faints and finners, of minifters and peo­
ple, and the more I fee of what is in man individually and
collectively, the more I am convinced of its infinite majefty,
if I may fo fpeak j and of its being under the direction of
that God who directs all his works to fome valuable and
important end.
T o you, my dear brother, I write freely. T o fome
perfons, were I fo to write, it would appear perhaps too
decifive and arrogant for a young man; but, my brother,
let us ftudy the ufeful. Every thing is valuable as it will
tell in another world. Separate any thing from eternal
duration, call it by whatever name you pleafe; is it popu­
larity? Is it a clear head ? Is it tickling the fancy o f a
thoufand hearers at once? What is this? W ill it be ever
mentioned in the long eternity of pleafure and praife, but
as it flood connefted with this eternity ? Never. There is
V o l . II.
D dd
382
a going through the outward duties of the chriilian miniftry with refpeflability; but being inftant in feafon and out of
feafon; making frequent and general viüts fpiritual» con­
ftantly devifmg fomething for the good o f the flock; railing
their zeal and efforts to the gofpel ftandard; drawing forth
gifts, vifiting, relieving, and comforting the fickj carrying
a warm and fervent fpirit into the pulpit; knowing no man
after the fleih, fo as to excite jealoufies by undue parti­
alities ; condefcending to the prejudices of the weakeft;—
many o f thefe things may have little outward ihew, but
they are infinitely more important to the converfion of
fouls, than the beft fermon that ever occupied a week’s
ftudy. Study—yes, ftudy to be quiet. But above all, ftudy
to get at the affe&ions, the confciences, and the falfe
refuges of finners— ftudy to be ufeful, then you will become
a fpiritual fatherj when, to borrow the ftrong figure of the
apoftie, “ You labour in birth again till Chrift is formed
in the hearts of men, the hope o f glory.” I f you become a
ufeful, you will firft be (as the Puritans faid) a painful
preacher of the gofpel. You will find as I do, I fuppofe,
that the greateft obftru&ions to being fruitful, zealous, and
favory, are thofe which block up the way of communion
with God. Recolle&ions when on the knees, which flop
the mouth o f prayer and fill the heart with fear to call God
our God, and our only portion. Oh it was a wonderful
help to Paul, that he knew no man after the flefh, and that
he was fo crucified to all flefhly connexions and indulgen­
cies, that he knew not even Chrift aft«’ the fleih! John
would have been but a barren apoftie, I fufpcét, (I mean as
it refpe&s the converfion o f others) if he had had Chrift’s
bofom always to lean upon.— Oh that we may neither of
us be caft-aways at laft! W e may, even though minifters,
be ufelefs to C hrift; and what then can he do with us, but
caft us away, as not worth keeping, and as being o ffe n fiv e
to him on account of our worthleffnefs. “ Becaufe thou art
neither cold nor hot, I will fpue thee out of my mouth."
W . W ARD.
383
M r. CH AM BERLAIN to Mr. SUTCLTFF.
Scramporc, Feb. is, 1S03*
T hrough the good hand of God upon us, we hav«
completed our voyage, and entered on the important under­
taking in which we found our dear brethren bufily engaged.
W e have been much favoured fince the time we fet fail
from America to India. Throughout the whole voyage the
weather was very pleafant, a few days only excepted. W e
had nothing like a ftorra more than tw ice; one was on
croffing the line, following an eclipfe of the moon, and the
other after a few days fail from the Cape. In the Indian
Ocean, and in the Bay of Bengal, the weather was exceed­
ingly hot for feveral days; and once, being becalmed within
fight of land, the heat was very oppreflive. Dec. 5, we
made the ifland of St. Paul, in fouth lat. 47. 52," eaft long.
77. 1 1 ." It is a barren defolate place, without inhabitant,
and almoft without herbage of any kind; but the fight of
land was very reviving. Sailing up the Bay of Bengal, we
had very pleafant weather; but the monfoon was againft us,
and prevented our making the progrefs we wiihed. W e
made feveral of the Nicobar iflands, but did not go on
ihore. During the laft ten days we were highly favoured
¿a the head of the Bay, the wind veering round in our
favour. Jan. 20, 1803, we took a pilot on board, to our
great jo y : we had been five calendar months and a day on
the mighty deep fince we parted with our former pilot off
the Cape of the Delaware. On the 22nd I wrote to our
brethren at Serampore, and the fupercargo kindly took the
letter with him the next day to Calcutta, to fend it for­
ward. Brother Carey and Ward fet out to meet us the day
afterwards, but could not reach us. W e ihould have
reached Calcutta on tuefday had we not unfortunately run
aground about fifteen miles from our port, at a place called
Budge-budge, where we remained two tides before we
could get off. In this fituation I experienced more difcomD d d 2
384
pofure and anxiety than in all our voyage: the pofition of
the {hip, lying on her beam ends, was very unpleafant. On
wednefday morning, about two o’clock, the tide fet us
afloat } and at eleven I faw a boat coming to the ihip, in
which there was a European. Immediately I concluded
that it was one of the brethren: and foon I recognized the
countenance of dear brother Ward ! I thanked God, and took
courage/ ( A £ s xxviii. 15 .) Having every thing ready for
difembarking, we left the ihip, and went in the boat to
Calcutta, where we arrived at three o’clock in the after­
noon. O n going aihore we met with brother Carey, went
to his apartments, and dined: afterwards we went to iifter
Holt’s, where we were agreeably entertained and lodged.
T h e next morning we left Calcutta at four o’clock,
and reached Serampore about feven. T h e family were not
up; but we foon aroufed them, and had an affe&ionate
meeting wkh them all. W e are now fettled in the apart­
ment formerly occupied by dear brother Brunfdon, and are
very comfortable. Blefs JeHoVaH^ ob myfo u l; and all that
is within me, bless his holy name ! Here we are, furrounded
with innumerable mercies, among the pious fervants of the
Lord, with whom we hold a delightful converfe, and all
the pains and fears of our voyage are now forgotten !
J. c.
D ESIG N A TIO N of FOUR new M ISSIO N A RIES.
A g r e e a b l y to a refoltition o f the Committee,
April 13 . 1803, as mentioned in our laft No. p. 3 1 7 , four
young men have been fet apart for miffionary fervice, in aid
o f our brethren at Serampore. On thurfday, Dec. 1. 1803,
at eleven o’clock in the forenoon, a folemn feafon of prayer
was held at the meeting-houfe in Broadmead, Briftol,
on this occafton. Mr. Humphrey, of Stoke-gomer, began
in prayer; after which, Mr. Saftery, of Saliibury, read the
£ith of Ifaiah, and prayed. Mr. Sutel iff, of Olney, then
385
gave a ihort account of the defign of the meeting* and
requefted the mifiionaries to give a brief ftatement of their
religious principles, and the views wherewith they have
entered on this work, which they did feverally to the gene­
ral fatisfa&ion o f the auditory; after which Mr. Sutcliff
came down Irom the pulpit, and prayed, laying his hands on
the heads of the young men, as did feyeral other mimfters
prefent. T he front of the table-pew having been removed
for this purpofe, there was a convenient fpace for them to
kneel together before the pulpit, and for the minifters
to ifcand on either fide of them. Mr. Fuller, of Kettering,
then delivered an addrefs to the miffionaries, founded on
Gen. xxviii. 3, 4. D r. RyUnd concluded in prayer.
Suitable hymns were fung at different intervals, three of
which were made for the occafion.
T h e miffionaries had been, for near twelve months
paft, under the tuition of Mr. Sutcliff, of Olney. T w o
of them were members of the church under the paftoral
care of the R ev. Ifaiah Birt, at Plymouth Dock; viz.
Richard Mardon, aged 28, lately married to Rhoda Brenham, aged 2 3 ; and John Bifs, aged 27, who has been
married two or three years to Hannah Ofmund, aged 27,
they have one child; one was a member o f the church at
Stoke-gomer, under the care o f the Rev. Robert Hum­
phrey. William Moore, aged 27, his wife, Eleanor Hurford,
aged 28, belonged to the fame church. T h e other miffionary, Joihua Rowe, aged 22, and his wife, Eliza Noyes,
aged 18, were^members of the church under the care of the
Rev. John Saffery.
Jan. 3 , 1804, the miffionaries failed from Briftol.
About thirty friends, fome in coaches and others on foot,
attended them as far as they could. A t Hungroad, after
going on board the jbip, they returned to the inn and
breakfafted. Having a little time, they fang part of the
430th hymn in Rippon’s Selection, compofed b y M r.
Ward, off Margate, in May, 1799. Dr. Ryland then
engaged in prayer; after which they feng the remainder o f
386
the hymn. T h e ihip now moving down the river, the
miffionaries went on board: as they failed towards Lamp­
lighter’s hail, the company ftood up on deck and fang
the fecond farewell hymn compofed by Mrs. Saffery. A il
feemed to difcover a proper fpirit; a mixture of painful
grateful affe&ion, and ardent zeal. T h e parting fcene
was exquifitely tender.
T he Society feel themfelves greatly obliged to their
friends at Briftol for their kind and liberal attentions to
the miffionaries.
T h ey are alio happy to add, that a letter has lately
been received from a gentleman at Philadelphia, dated Dec.
18 . 18 0 3, in which he fays, “ Captain Wickes arrived fafe
at Calcutta on the 20th o f Ju ly laft, in lefs than four
months from Philadelphia; and from the profped he has c f
completing his bufinefs, it is highly probable he will be
fetamed to America before the miffionaries arrive, and
be ready to go out with them to India in the Chip Benjamin
Franklin.” T h e Captain's letter, he iays, is dated Aug. 1.
2803, and mentions, “ that the miffionaries are in a promifing w a y ; that their number of native converts had gra­
dually encreafad; and that amongft them were thrte of
the brahman caft, one o f which was out on a preaching
excurfion.”
H YM NS
Sung at the designation o f the 3Imivnariest Dec. 1, 1803.
FAREW ELL
to
th e
MISSIONARIES.
1.
F rom Indian plains, on Albion’ s ihore
See gold, and gems, and fragrance fmile;
But Britain, in a richer ftore,
Returns it from our native iile.
2.
L o ! with the gofpePs glorious prize,
W ith truths irradiant as the fun,
In vain the fparkling treafure v ie s;
W e fewd the pearl of price unknown.
387
The nations feel the flings o f war,
And wrath with boundlefs tumult reigns;
And Gallic fury raves from far,
And Bririfh heroes fill the plains:
But Zion’s gentler hofts engage,
Impatient for a nobler fight,
Through every land the war to wage,
And put confederate worlds to flight.
Y e s, hell fhall mourn the eternal lofs,
And earth with captive fouls abound;
Before the foldiers of the crofs,
W ith unenfanguined laurels crown’d.
For this the embofom’d prize we fpare,
Dear to the Churches’ glowing heart;
For this with unrelu&ant tear,
W e bid our well-belov’d depart.
Go, then, dear miflionary train,
Go, blefs the diftant eaftern ihore;
Y e ihall not hear our lips complain,
That we behold your forms no more.
Great G©d of nature ! to whofe fight,
Unfathom’d ocean open lies !
Bid every bleffing on them ’light,
In profperous gales, and peaceful ikies.
Ah ! let them not to death be hurl’d,
But guide them o’er the buoyant wave ;
Save them thyfelf—and teach the world
B y them, thy power, thy w ill to fave.
S.
T IIE M ISSIO N A RIES’ FAREWELL.
K i n d r e d , and friends, and native land,
How ihall w e fay farewel ?
How, when our fwelling fails expand,
How will our bofoms fwell!
Y e s, nature, all thy foft delights,
And tender ties we know,
But love more ftrong than death, unites
T o Him that bids us go.
Thus, when our every paffion moved,
The
gufhing tear-drop fta rts;
T h e caufe of J e s u s , more beloved,
Shall glow withiu our hearts.
38#
4.
T h e fìghs we breathe for precious foulsi
. . 3. ; Where he is yet unknown,
Might waft us - to the diftant poles,
Or to the burning zone. •
5.
^
W ith die w arm wUb our bofoms- fw ell,
Our glowing powers expand ; "
Farewel, then we can fay, farewel !
. Our friends, our native land !
S.
THE
i.
FOLLOWING ' BY. A
BRISTOL
STUDENT.
. S o v e r e i g n of worlds! difplay t h y pow’r,
Be this thy Zion’s favor’d hpur. ; Bid the bright morning 4tar arife,
And point the nations to the ikies.
а. Set up thy throne where fatan reigns,
On Afric’s fhores, on India’s plains;
~ On Wilds and continents unknown—
* And be the univerfe thine own !
3. Speak—and the world ihall hear thy voice 5
Speak—and the deferts ihall rejoice!
f Scatter the ibades .of moral night;
L e i worthlefs i4ors flee the light !
4.
T
5.
T h e go-fpel, ftandard void of fear ,
Go feek with joy your deftin’d ihore,
T o view your native land no more.
Y es— C hriftian H eroes !— go— proclaim
rufting in hin>, dear brethren, rear,
Salvation through I m m a n u e l ’s nam e;
T o India’s clime, the tidings bear,
And. plaac the Rofe ,of Sharons there.
б. He’ll fhield you with a wall of fire,< “ W ith flaming |eaT yóur breafts infpire ;
» Bid raomg winds raejr fury ceafe,
f And huih the tempeils into peac'e',
7.
And. when our labours all are o’e^vr
;
Then we Aall ’meet ;to part no m ore;
l J Meet with the blood-bought throng-to fall,
And crown our Tefus, Lordi of A ll!
*B. H. D.
* E ft #
,
,
N u m ber
X
| 804.
I J,