ing off has been, I am not yet able to judge. But I am happy to add, that the Board of Revenue has iffued the ftricteft orders against all unprovoked perfecution." Tranf. of Miff. Society, II. 431-433.

The following quotations evince how far from indifferent the natives are to the progrefs of the Chriftian religion in the Eaft.

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

November 16th.-Received a letter from the Rev. Dr Taylor; we are happy to find he is fafely arrived at Calcutta, and that our Baptift Brethren are labouring with increasing fuccefs. The natives around us are aftonished to hear this news. It is bad news to the Brahmins, who feem unable to account for it; they fay the world is going to ruin.' Tranf. of Milf. Society, II. 442. & 446.

While living in the town, our house was watched by the natives from morning to night, to fee if any perfons came to converfe about religion. This prevented many from coming, who have been very defirous of hearing of the good way.' Trans. of Miff. Society, No. 18. p. 87.

If Heathen, of great influence and connexions, or Brahmins, were inclined to join the Chriftian Church, it would probably caufe commotions, and even rebellions, either to prevent them from it, or to endanger their life. In former years, we had fome inftances of this kind at Tranquebar; where they were protected by the affiftance of govern. ment. If fuch inftances fhould happen now in our present times, we don't know what the confequence would be.' Tranf. of Miff. Society, II. 185.

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

It is hardly fair to contend, after these extracts, that no symp toms of jealousy upon the subject of religion had been evinced on the coast, except in the case of the insurrection at Vellore; or that no greater activity than common had prevailed among the missionaries. We are very far, however, from attributing that insurrection exclusively, or even principally, to any apprehensions from the zeal of the missionaries. The rumour of that zeal might probably have more readily disposed the minds of the troops for the corrupt influence exercised upon them; but we have no doubt

that

that the massacre was principally owing to an adroit use made by the sons of Tippoo, and the high Mussulmen living in the fortress, of the abominable military foppery of our own people.

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

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

The first Number of the Anabaptist Missions, informs us that the origin of the Society will be found in the workings of Brother Carey's mind, whose heart appears to have been set upon the conversion of the Heathen in 1786, before he came to reside at Moulton. (No. 1. p. 1.) These workings produced a sermon at Northampton, and the sermon a subscription to convert 420 millions of Pagans. Of the subscription we have the following account. Information is come from Brother Carey, that a gentleman from Northumberland had promised to send him 201. for the Society, and to subscribe four guineas annually.

At this meeting at Northampton two other friends fubfcribed, and paid two guineas a piece, two more one guinea each, and another half a guinea, making fix guineas and a half in all. And fuch members as were prefent of the firt fubfcribers, paid their fubfcriptions into the hands of the treasurer; who propofed to put the fum now received into the hands of a banker, who will pay intereft for the fame.' Baptift Mif. Soc. No. I. p. 5.

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

On my arrival at Calcutta, I fought for religious people, but found none. At laft, how was I rejoiced to hear that a very religious man was coming to dine with me, at a house in Calcutta ; a man who would not omit his closet hours, of a morning or evening, at sea or on land, for all the world. I concealed my impatience as well as I could, till the joyful moment came: and a moment it was; for I foon heard him take the Lord's name in vain, and it was like a cold dagger, with which I received repeated ftabs in the courfe of half an hour's converfation: and he was ready to kick me when I fpoke of fome things commonly be lieved by other hypocrites, concerning our Lord Jefus Chrift; and with fury put an end to our converfation, by faying, I was a mad enthusiast to fuppofe that Jefus Christ had any thing to do in the creation of the world, who was born only feventeen hundred years ago. When I returned, he went home in the fame fhip, and I found him a ftrict observer of devotional hours, but an enemy to all religion, and horribly loofe, vain, and intemperate in his life and converfation.

After this I advertised for a chriftian; and that I may not be mifunderflood, 1 fhall fubjoin a copy of the advertisement, from the India Gazette of November 1. 1783, which now lies before me.' Baptift Mif. Soc. No. I. p. 14, 15.

Brother Thomas relates the conversion of an Hindoo on the Malabar coast to the Society.

A certain man on the Malabar coaft, had enquired of various devotees and priests, how he might make atonement for his fins; and at last he was directed to drive iron spikes, fufficiently blunted, through his fandals, and on these spikes he was to place his naked feet, and walk (if I mistake not) 250 cofs, that is about 480 miles. If, through lofs of blood, or weakness of body, he was obliged to halt, he might wait for healing and ftrength. He undertook the journey; and while he halted under a large fhady tree where the gofpel was fometimes preached, one of the miffionaries came, and preached in his hearing from these words, The blood of Jefus Chrift cleanfeth from all fin. While he was preaching, the man rofe up, threw off his torturing fandals, and cried out aloud, is what I want!" Baptift Mif. Soc. No. I. 29.

This

On June 13. 1793, the missionaries set sail, carrying with them letters to three supposed converts of Brother Thomas, Parbotee, Ram Ram Boshoo, and Mohun Chund. Upon their ar rival in India, they found, to their inexpressible mortification, that Ram Ram had relapsed into Paganism; and we shall present our readers with a picture of the present and worldly misery to which an Hindoo is subjected, who becomes a Convert to the Christian religion. Every body knows, that the population of Hindostan is divided into casts, or classes of persons, and that when a man loses his cast, he is shunned by his wife, children, friends, and relations; that it is considered as an abomination to lodge or eat with him; and that he is a wanderer and an outcast upon the earth. Cast can be lost by a variety of

means,

means, and the Protestant missionaries have always made the loss of it a previous requisite to admission into the Christian church.

On our arrival at Calcutta, we found poor Ram Bofhoo waiting for 8; but, to our great grief, he has been bowing down to idols again. When Mr T. left India, he went from place to place; but, forfaken by the Hindoos, and neglected by the Europeans, he was feized with a flux and fever. In this ftate, he fays, "I had nothing to fupport me or my family; a relation offered to fave me from perishing for want of neceffaries, on condition of my bowing to the idol; I knew that the Roman Catholic Chriftians worshipped idols; I thought they might be commanded to honour images in fome part of the bible which I had not feen; 1 hefitated, and complied: but I love Christianity ftill." Bapt. Mif. Soc. vol. I. p. 64, 65.

Jan. 8. 1794. We thought to write you long before this, but our hearts have been burthened with cares and forrows. It was very afflicting to hear of Ram Bofhoo's great perfecution and fall. Deferted by Englishmen, and perfecuted by his own countrymen, he was nigh unto death. The natives gathered in bodies, and threw duft in the air as he paffed along the streets in Calcutta. At laft one of his relations offered him an afylum on condition of his bowing down to their idols.' Ib. p. 78. Brother Carey's Piety at Sea.

Brother Carey, while very fea fick, and leaning over the ship to relieve his ftomach from that very oppreffive complaint, faid his mind was even then filled with confolation in contemplating the wonderful goodnefs of God.' Ibid. p. 76.

Extracts from Brother Carey's and Brother Thomas's Journals, at Sea and by Land.

1793. June 16. Lord's-day. A little recovered from my ficknefs; met for prayer and exhortation in my cabin; had a dispute with a French deift. Ibid. p. 158.

30. Lord's-day. A pleasant and profitable day : our congregation composed of ten perfons. Ibid. p. 159.

July 7. Another pleasant and profitable Lord's-day; our congrega tion increased with one. Had much fweet enjoyment with God.' Ibid. 1794. Jan. 26. Lord's-day. Found much pleasure in reading Edwards's Sermon on the juflice of God in the damnation of finners. Ibid. P. 165.

⚫ April 6. Had fome fweetnefs to-day, especially in reading Edwards's Sermon.' Ibid. p. 171.

June 8. This evening reached Bowlea, where we lay to for the Sabbath. Felt thankful that God had preferved us, and wondered at his regard for fo mean a creature. I was enabled to wrestle with God in prayer for many of my dear friends in England.' Ibid. p. 179.

16. This day I preached twice at Malda, where Mr Thomas met me. Had much enjoyment; and though our congregation did not ex. ceed fixteen, yet the pleasure I felt in having my tongue once more fet at liberty, I can hardly defcribe. Was enabled to be faithful, and felt a fweet affection for immortal fouls. Ibid. p. 180.

• 1796.

1796. Feb. 6. I am now in my ftudy; and oh, it is a fweet place; because of the prefence of God with the vileft of men. It is at the top of the houfe; I have but one window in it.' Bap. Mif. Vol. I. p. 295a The work to which God has fet his hand will infallibly profper, Chrift has begun to bombard this ftrong and ancient fortrefs, and will affuredly carry it.' Ibid. p. 328.

More miffionaries I think abfolutely neceffary to the fupport of the intereft. Should any natives join us, they would become outcaft imme diately, and muft be, confequently, fupported by us. The miffioraries on the coast are to this day obliged to provide for thofe who join them, as I learnt from a letter fent to brother Thomas by a fon of one of the miffionaries. Ibid. P. 3.34.

In the last extract, our readers will perceive a new dificulty attendant upon the progress of Christianity in the East. The convert must not only be subjected to degradation, but his degra dation is so complete, and his means of providing for himself so entirely destroyed, that he must be fed by his instructor. The slightest success in Hindostan would eat up the revenues of the East India Company.

Three years after their arrival, these zealous and most active missionaries give the following account of their success.

I blefs God, our profpect is confiderably brightened up, and our hopes are more enlarged than at any period fince the commencement of the miffion, owing to very pleafing appearances of the gofpel having been made effectual to FOUR poor labouring Muffulmans, who have been fetting their faces towards Zion ever fince the month of Auguft laft. I hope their baptism will not be much longer deferred; and that might encourage Mohun Chund, Parbottee, and Caffi Naut, (who last year appeared to fet out in the ways of God) to declare for the Lord Jefus Chrift, by an open profeffion of their faith in him. Seven of the natives; we hope, are indeed converted. Ibid. I. p: 345-6.

Effects of preaching to an Hindoo Congregation.

I then told them, that if they could not tell me, I would tell them and that God, who had permitted the Hindoos to fink into a fea of darknefs, had at length commiferated them; and fent me and my colleagues to preach life to them. I then told them of Chrift, his death, his perfon, his love, his being the furety of finners, his power to fave, &c. and exhorted them earneftly and affectionately to come to him. Effects were various; one man came before I had well done, and wanted to fell ftockings to me.' Ibid. p. 357.

Extracts from Journals.

After worship, I received notice that the printing-prefs was juft ar rived at the Ghat from Calcutta. Retired, and thanked God for fur

nifhing us with a prefs.' Ibid. p: 469.

Success in the Sixth Year.

We lament that feveral who did run well, are now hindered. We.

have faint hopes of a few, and pretty strong hopes of one or two; but if

FOL. XII. NO. 23.