PART VII.

PROPAGATION OF CHRISTIANITY BY THE BAPTISTS.

CHAPTER I.

Origin of the Baptist Missionary Society-Carey and Thomas sent to Bengal-Their difficulties-Hindoo character-Other missionaries sent out-Mission fixed at Serampore-Death of Mr. Grant.

So early as 1784, an Association of Baptist ministers and churches met at Nottingham, set apart one hour, the first Monday evening of every month, for special and united prayer that the kingdom of Christ might be extended in the world. When this had been continued about seven years, many began to feel an inconsistency in praying without exerting themselves to obtain the object of their prayers. In particular, the Rev. Mr. Carey, pastor of a church in Moulton, and afterwards in Leicester, a pleasant shire-town, on the river Sour, was deeply impressed with the importance of some vigorous effort to propagate Christianity.

From his first entering the ministry,* his mind had been deeply affected with the state of the heathen world; and that his views might be properly directed, he had made himself acquainted with the geography, population, and religion, of the various nations of the earth; and with the labours of Christians both of early and of later ages, in extending the Gospel. Whenever he

Till the twenty fourth year of his age, Mr. Carey was a working shoemaker.

met with his Brethren in the ministry, he seldom omitted to converse with them on the importance and practicability of missions. The Rev. Mr. Pearce of Birmingham entered deeply into his views, and several others began to think seriously on the subject. At a ministers' meeting in Clipstone, 1791, two sermons were preached which had an aspect on missions; and a degree of feeling being excited, Mr. Carey moved that they should come to some resolution about forming a missionary Society. But nothing was done, except to request Mr. Carey to publish a manuscript, which he had by him, on the subject. In the spring of the following year, Mr. Carey preached a sermon at the annual Association in Nottingham, from Isaiah liv. 2, 3; in which he took up the spirit of the passage in two exhortations, Expect great things-Attempt great things. The effect was considerable. A resolution was passed that a plan for a society should be formed before the next ministers' meeting. This was done. The constitution was adopted at Kettering, Oct. 2, 1792, the directing committee chosen, and something effected towards obtaining the requisite funds. Only 13l. 2s. 6d. however, was at first subscribed.

The Committee having learnt that Mr. Thomas, a pious surgeon, who had spent some time in India, and had made some exertions to instruct the natives in Christianity, was desirous of returning to that country in the capacity of a missionary, applied to him for that purpose. He readily consented. It was resolved that he should have a colleague. Mr. Carey, whose propensity to the mission was well known, being present on the Committee, was asked if he was willing to accompany Mr. Thomas. He at once answered in the affirmative. The solemn designation of these missiona. ries to their work took place at Leicester, March 20, 1793, and they sailed for India, with their families, on the 13th of June following.

After a voyage of near five months they arrived safely at Calcutta. Here they underwent a variety of

trials. Of the Hindoos, whom Mr. Thomas had in structed, they soon met one who had professed to embrace Christianity, and found to their grief that he had not kept himself from idols. He had gone from place to place after Mr. Thomas left India, forsaken by the Hindoos, and neglected by the Europeans. He was seized with a flux and fever. "In this situation," said he, "I had nothing to support me or my family. A relation offered to save me from perishing on condition of my bowing to the idol. I knew that the Roman Catholics worshipped idols. I thought they might be commanded to honour images in some part of the Bible which I had not seen. I hesitated, and complied, but I love Christianity still."* He was received into the employment of the missionaries, and they entertained some hope of him for a time; but he was finally guilty of gross sins, for which they were obliged to dismiss him.

Mr. Carey and his colleague were reduced to great perplexity about support. Through a number of unavoidable occurrences, the investment taken out for their immediate maintenance was sunk; and they were left with their families in a strange land, without any means of subsistence. Mr. Carey at length removed some distance into the country, and took a little land for tillage. Mr. Thomas continued at Calcutta with the hope of maintaining himself by his profession. He soon received from a former acquaintance, an invitation to take charge of an Indigo factory. One was likewise offered to Mr. Carey. Under existing circumstances they thought it best to accept the offer. They could be supported without aid from the Society, and still devote themselves to their proper work, except about three months in the year; besides having the constant charge of several hundred Hindoos.

They accordingly took their stations, Mr. Carey at Mudnabatty and Mr. Thomas at Moypauldiggy, both

* Baptist Periodical Accounts, Vol. I. p. 65.

n the vicinity of Malda. Here they not only instructed their workmen and established schools in the respective factories, but preached to many other natives, who came from different parts to hear them. They likewise made frequent excursions into the neighbouring country. "I have a district," says Mr. Carey, "of about twenty miles square, where I am continually going from place to place to publish the Gospel; and in this space are about two hundred villages. My manner of travelling is with two small boats, one of which serves me to lodge in, the other for cooking my food. All my furniture, as well as provisions, I carry with me, namely, a chair, a table, a bed, and a lamp. I walk from village to village, but repair to my boat for lodging and food. There are several rivers in this part of the country, which render it very convenient for_travelling."*

Leaving the missionaries thus employed, it may be proper to take a slight view of the people among whom their lot was cast, that we may apprehend the difficulties they had to encounter.

The Hindoos are probably of the Ammonian race, and descendants of Cush. In their physical and intellectual character, they resemble most other Asiatic nations; though perhaps imbecility, both of body and mind, are more strikingly characteristic of them than of any other. They are partially civilized, at least they are not savages; but their refinement is of the sickly kind. They have some knowledge of the sciences, and of the more elegant arts, but of the useful they are almost entirely ignorant. Civilization with them is now retrograde, and resembles the ebbing tide, when the pure waters have subsided, and left only their filth. The Hindoos possess most of the evils attendant on civilization, while they retain few of its benefits. Their moral character is shaped by their religion, and forms a strange tissue of opposite qualities; the humane

Period. Acc. Vol. I. p. 233.

with the cruel; the austere with the licentious the sanguinary with the voluptuous. On the one hand, they shudder at the sight of blood, and think ita crime to kill even an animal; on the other, they commit the most unheard of cruelties, not sparing their own children or parents from death. At one time, they wallow in sensuality, indulging the most unbounded gratification; at another, they cheerfully undergo the most cruel self tortures. They possess most of the passive virtues, but their patience is often pusillanimity; their resignation, indifference; their patience, insensibility. None of the higher virtues adorn their character; active benevolence is scarcely known among them; and for gratitude, they are said to have no name! At the same time, they practise the basest vices. Avarice is the leading feature of their character. Perjury is frequent, even among the Brahmins, (priests) while fraud, lying, and thieving, are not in their list of crimes, but thought accomplishments, when practised so adroitly as to avoid detection. In the more beastly excesses, they glory in their shame. Modesty forbids even to hint at them.

As to religion they are in the highest sense idolaters. Their mythology, indeed, teaches them that there is a Supreme Being; but they suppose him too elevated to notice what passes on the earth. He has created three principal deities, Bramha, Vishnou, and Siva; to the first of which was committed the creation of the world; to the second, its government; and to the third, finally, its destruction. These are of course worshipped, especially Vishnou, who in performing his office of Preserver has had nine incarnations, all of which are represented by a variety of images. Besides these, they believe in a multitude of inferior divinities, and worship many objects of nature. Every family has its household god, which is placed at the entrance of the building, and honoured by offerings of rice, flowers, and fruit. These images are made of brass, the larger ones, in their temples, of stone or wood,