Obrázky na stránke
PDF
ePub

"this pious work, to the glory of his name, and the "salvation of so many millions of souls.

[ocr errors]

"Let others indulge in a ministry, if not idle,

certainly less laborious, among Christians at home. "Let them enjoy in the bosom of the Church, titles "and honours, obtained without labour and without

danger. Your praise it will be (a praise of endless "duration on earth, and followed by a just recompense "in heaven) to have laboured in the vineyard which "yourselves have planted; to have declared the name "of Christ, where it was not known before and "through much peril and difficulty to have converted "to the faith those, among whom ye afterwards ful"filled your ministry. Your province, therefore, Bre"thren, your office, I place before all dignities in the "Church. Let others be Pontiffs, Patriarchs, or Popes; "let them glitter in purple, in scarlet, or in gold; let "them seek the admiration of the wondering multitude, "and receive obeisance on the bended knee. "have acquired a better name than they, and a more "sacred fame. And when that day shall arrive when "the chief Shepherd shall give to every man according "to his work, a greater reward shall be adjudged to you "Admitted into the glorious society of the Prophets,

[ocr errors]

Ye

Evangelists, and Apostles, ye, with them shall shine, "like the sun among the lesser stars, in the kingdom "of your Father, for ever.

"Since then so great honour is now given unto "you by all competent judges on earth, and since "so great a reward is laid up for you in heaven; go

[ocr errors]

"forth with alacrity to that work, to the which the Holy "Ghost hath called you. God hath already given "to you an illustrious pledge of his favour, an increase "not to be expected without the aid of his grace. Ye "have begun happily, proceed with spirit. He, who "hath carried you safely through the dangers of the "seas to such a remote country, and who hath given you favour in the eyes of those whose countenance

[ocr errors]

ye most desired; he who hath so liberally and un<6 expectedly ministered unto your wants, and who "doth now daily add members to your Church; he "will continue to prosper your endeavours, and will "subdue unto himself, by your means, the whole "Continent of Oriental India.

"O happy men! who, standing before the tribunal "of Christ, shall exhibit so many nations converted "to his faith by your preaching; happy men! to "whom it shall be given to say before the assembly of "the whole human race, Behold us, O Lord, and the ""children whom thou hast given us;' happy men! who "being justified by the Saviour, shall receive in that σε day the reward of your labours, and also shall hear "that glorious encomium; Well done, good and "faithful servants, enter ye into the joy of your "Lord.'

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

"May Almighty God graciously favour you and your labours, in all things. May he send to your aid "fellow-labourers, such and as many as ye wish. May ❝he increase the bounds of your Churches. May he "open the hearts of those to whom ye preach the

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

from

Gospel of Christ, that hearing you, they may receive life-giving faith. May he protect you and yours "all evils and dangers. And when ye arrive, (may it "be late) at the end of your course, may the same "God, who hath called you to this work of the Gospel, "and hath preserved you in it, grant to you the re"ward of your labour, an incorruptible crown of glory.

[ocr errors]

"These are the fervent wishes and prayers of, "venerable Brethren,

"Your most faithful

"fellow-servant in Christ,

"GULIELMUS CANT."

"From our Palace at Lambeth,

January 7, A. D. 1719.

Providence hath been pleased to grant the prayer of the King, "that the work might not "fail in generations to come;" and the prophecy of his Archbishop is likely to be fulfilled, that it should extend "over the whole Continent of

Oriental India."- After the first Missionary Ziegenbalg had finished his course, he was followed by other learned and zealous men, upwards of fifty in number in the period of a hundred years, among whom were Schultz, Iænicke, Gericke, and Swartz, whose ministry has been continued in succession in different provinces, unto this

time. The present state of the Mission, will appear by the following extract from the Journal of the Author's Tour through these provinces

"Tranquebar, 25th August, 1806.

Tranquebar was the first scene of the Protestant "Mission in India. There are at present three "Missionaries here, superintending the Hindoo Con"gregations. Yesterday I visited the Church built by

ZIEGENBALG. His body lies on one side of the "altar, and that of his fellow Missionary GRUNDLER "on the other. Above are the epitaphs of both, written "in Latin, and engraved on plates of brass. The "Church was consecrated in 1718, and Ziegenbalg and "his companion died in two years after. They laid the "foundation for evangelizing India, and then departed,

[ocr errors]

having finished the work, which was given them to "do.' I saw also the dwelling-house of Ziegenbalg, "in the lower apartment of which the registers of the "Church are still kept. In these I found the name "of the first heathen baptized by him, and recorded "in his own hand-writing in the year 1707.—In

[ocr errors]

Ziegenbalg's Church, and from the pulpit where he "stood, I first heard the Gospel preached to a congregation of Hindoos, in their own tongue.-The "Missionaries told me that Religion had suffered much "in Tranquebar, of late years, from European Infidelity.

[ocr errors]

"French principles had corrupted the Danes, and "rendered them indifferent to their own religion, and "therefore hostile to the conversion of the Hindoos. "Religion,' said they, flourishes more among the "natives of Tanjore and in other provinces where "there are few Europeans, than here or at Madras; "for we find that European example in the large towns, "is the bane of Christian instruction.'-One instance "of hostility to the Mission they mentioned, as having "occurred only a few weeks before my arrival. On the "9th of July, 1756, the native Christians at Tranquebar "celebrated a JUBILEE, in commemoration of the "fiftieth year since the Christian ministers brought the "Bible from Europe. The present year 1806, being "the second 50th, preparations were made at Tranque"bar for the second Jubilee, on the 9th of last month; "but the French principles preponderating in the "Government, they would not give it any pub“lic support; in consequence of which it was not "observed with that solemnity which was intended. "But in other places, where there were few Europeans, "it was celebrated by the native Christians with en"thusiasm and every demonstration of joy. When "I expressed my astonishment at this hostility, the "aged Missionary, Dr. John, said, 'I have always re"marked that the disciples of Voltaire are the true "enemies of Missions, and that the enemies of Missions are, in general, the disciples of Voltaire.'

[ocr errors]
« PredošláPokračovať »