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To them I carried a loving invitation, to call them to that Savior who came to save the lost and unworthy. They, seeming more inclined to cast off all religion than to embrace the holy gospel, did not pay great attention to the representation of our brethren. Yet they received me civ. illy; and many of them took our papers, and some copies of God's word, which they promised to read. Thus they dismissed me, with a letter to the missionaries. But as I was returning, many Hindoos were mad upon their idols, being also stirred up by the Brahmans, who feared the progress of the gospel, and, besetting me round, murdered me. Thomas. How was mind affected when you peryour

ceived their murderous intentions?

Syam Dass. Fear for a moment prevailing, I strove to make my escape; but finding that impossible, and think. ing of the love of Christ, who laid down his life for me, I felt willing, if such should be his pleasure, to lay my life down for him. If the great and glorious Savior died for poor unworthy sinners, why should not a saved sinner die for his gracious Savior? A transient thought of my wife, and her son Neeloo, occurred to my mind; fearing lest my death should make them more averse to embracing the gospel; and I knew it would greatly grieve my brethren and teachers; but I gave them all up to our wise and loving Lord. Calling on him to receive my spirit; it soon left the body. Then at once my powers seemed lost in a calm rapture; love, confidence, and joy, filling all my mind; while I perceived an holy angel joining me in songs of praise, who speedily conducted me to these blest abodes.

Pearce. Hindoo brother! Though I never saw the plains of Bengal, yet have I in yonder world poured out in

I think it

cessant prayers for the success of the mission. the greatest honor our Lord put upon me on earth, that he stirred me up to be one of the first who promoted the plau; and, had he seen fit to have employed me, I would most gladly have become myself a missionary. My dear countrymen, who were so soon called away from their work in India, when the fields first seemed ripe for harvest, have given me great joy, by the information they brought, that several of your countrymen had become obedient to the faith; but your arrival here affords me still higher pleasure.

Syam Dass. Are you that charming Pearce, whose memoirs were sent to our brethren? Felix once translated to me some of your letters, and the sweet account of your death. How will our nation for ever bless your gracious Lord, for filling your heart, and the hearts of your brethren in England, with such tender concern for our salvation! Pearce. I am that saved sinner. O what a debtor to grace am I! So indeed are we all. Heaven is full of insolvent debtors, who never, never can repay our exalted Immanuel for the love which passes knowledge! How could we taste it on earth, and not be constrained to greater activity!

Syam Dass. O happy English, who have enriched Bengal with the knowledge of such a Savior!

Pearce. Here is the blessed Erskine, from Scotland, which is the northern part of Britain, who helped our little society with his prayers, from its very commencement. He was, on earth, a generous lover of all good men, of whatever denomination. If they did but love Jesus Christ in sincerity, he loved them with a pure heart fervently.

Syam Dass. Why, could any one, whose heart was purified by faith in Christ, do otherwise?

Erskine. Ah, Syam! You never knew how the Chris. tians of Europe are divided into a variety of sects; and though the things in which they agree are far more numerous and more important than those on which they differ, yet they find many impediments to their union, arising from the evils of their hearts, and the craft of satan, who makes use of these differences to check their love. I bless God that I habitually felt a strong affection for all the friends of free grace and true holiness; and now that which was lacking in my love below, is perfectly supplied. I rejoice exceedingly that the labors of my Baptist brethren have been crowned with success; and I am persuaded, brother Dass, that your blood will be, as it were, the seed of the church.

Syam Dass. I feel perfectly assured that our Lord will overrule all for the good of his own cause. He will care for my brethren, and comfort their hearts; and, perhaps, my widow and her son may be brought also to know his

name.

Erskine. My brother Edwards, who was lately president of Schenectady college, in America, to whose corres. pondence I introduced some of your English friends, has brought his dear father with him, to congratulate you on your arrival.

Edwards, junior. The saved of all countries and all ages meet here, with the most cordial affection, and exult in each other's happiness; but it affords a peculiar gratification to see the first fruits of a country so long overrun with false religion and idolatry.

Syam Dass. Surely, no country on earth can be sunk lower in ignorance, vice, and cruel superstition, than mine! Yet there, our Lord having begun to triumph, will doubtless prevail over all opposition. I remember how brother Peetumber once exulted in the thought; 66 There is," said he, "an irrevocable decree, that Christ Jesus shall be manifested to Bengal."

Edwards, senior. Who can doubt it, that has any acquaintance with the most sure words of prophecy, contained in the scriptures of truth? The zeal of the Lord of hosts is pledged for their accomplishment. I remember that when I lived upon earth, "My heart was much set on the advancement of Christ's kingdom in the world. When I read the history of past ages, the pleasantest thing in all my reading was, the promotion of the cause of Christ. Whenever I expected, in a course of reading, to come to any accounts of this sort, I reckoned upon it all the way I read; and my mind was then delighted with the prophecies of the future triumphs of the Redeemer." The accounts which my dear son, and others, who have lately come to this upper world, have given me, respecting the societies formed in Britain and America, for the propaga tion of the gospel, have afforded me unutterable pleasure.

Grant. In my last illness I felt somewhat dejected at the prospect of being removed before I could do any thing for God, or had seen the brethren who went before us to India. But, as soon as death tore the veil from my eyes, I saw cause for nothing but satisfaction and gratitude. God made brother Marshman the chief instrument of saving me from infidelity and error; and then employed me as the means of turning his mind to missionary work. I am reVOL. I.

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ceived into this heavenly state; while he continues with dear brother Ward, and with the excellent Carey, whom I never saw on earth, to labor with diligence and increasing success. My widow also is serviceable in the concerns of the family; and my children are training up, I trust, for future usefulness. All is well; all has been ordered by infallible wisdom.

Edwards, jun. Your brethren must have been greatly tried by the successive removals of their fellow laborers. But what they know not now they shall fully understand in futurity. Brother Dass's death, no doubt, afflicts them exceedingly; but still it is counterbalanced by their success up the country. Greater opposition must be expected, as satan feels his kingdom shaken. All others that are engaged in missionary attempts must expect like trials, though they may differ in various circumstances. But this Hindoo brother is like the sheaf of the first fruits which was ordered to be waved before the Lord. The harvest shall follow in Bengal, and in all nations. forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall reap, not fainting. Stephen.

They that go

in due time

Let us attend our brother to the throne of the slaughtered Lamb; in whose book of life it now ap. pears, his name was written before the world began.

Saints. Salvation to our God, who sitteth upon the throne; and unto the Lamb, who hath redeemed our souls with his blood!

Angels. Amen! Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever! Amen.

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