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senior Baptist missionaries (in the review of their missionary stations very recently received from Serampore,)" in the neighbouring villages of Serampore, assisted as they are by those of brethren Mack, Williamson, and Douglass, have been increasingly acceptable to their own countrymen. The gospel is no longer despised by the heathen there. The conduct of those who have professed it, has now been witnessed by them through a period of twenty years; and after all that they have seen of their remaining weakness of mind, the conviction is widely spread, that Christianity has made them better men; that it is the truth, and will surely spread. The native Christian brethren are no longer reproached for embracing the gospel and renouncing the idolatry of their fathers; they are declared to have acted herein like wise men, who have followed that which they believed to be heathen neighbours, they are obtained possession of a good, to lament their own want of courage to attain; since their giving up the favour of their heathen friends and relations appears too great a sacrifice for themselves to make. Those who have made this sacrifice, however, are regarded with esteem, as men above their level, rather than as deserving contempt. The number of real conversions, which may follow these feelings, must be left

truth. By their supposed to have which they seem

entirely to Him, whose sole prerogative it is to change the heart; but it is pleasing to see the gospel thus gradually making its way to the understandings of men, and commending itself so far to their consciences as to put them to silence. This our European brethren, who accompany them, have often witnessed: they have sometimes seen a gainsayer, who has attempted to oppose what they have said, silenced by those around him, with, "Why dispute? we know that the things these men say are really true."

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CHAPTER XIII.

Inquiry into the truth of the Abbé's representation, that the efforts now making to impart Christian Knowledge in India, are calculated to excite the Hindoos to open Persecution, and likely to issue in a complete Rebellion.

WE have now to enter upon a new and serious charge brought by the Abbé against all who are zealously employed in propagating Christianity in India; the substance of which is, that these efforts have already been sufficient to produce among the Hindoos an inclination to engage in open persecution, and, if persevered in, are likely to issue in a state of complete anarchy and rebellion.

The Abbé's words are as follows:-" It is a certain fact, that since the new reformers have overflowed the country with their Bibles and religious tracts, the Christian religion, and the natives who profess it, have become more odious to the heathen than ever. Formerly the native

Christians, when known, were, it is true, despised and shunned by the pagans; but, on account of their small numbers, they were scarcely noticed. Now the religious tracts, dispersed with profusion in every direction, have brought them into public notice, and rendered them an object of universal opprobrium; and I apprehend that this very cause would already have given rise to an open persecution, were it not for the awe inspired by a government which is well known to extend an equal protection to all religious worship."

"All know that nothing is better calculated to produce irritation, opposition, and resistance, than contradiction; above all, when the contradicted party is the strongest and most obstinate. Now such is precisely the effect produced by the interference of the new reformers with the prejudices of the Hindoos; and I have reason to apprehend that the opposition of the latter will increase in proportion to the extent of the contradictions to which they may be exposed, until it shall finish by some explosion which may make all India a theatre of confusion and anarchy, to which it will be in the power of no government to apply a remedy." (pp. 175-6.)

Let us examine the last part of the Abbé's representation first, as bearing the graver aspect; and I apprehend that the more we investigate,

the more we shall be convinced that (accounting for the statement in the manner most favourable for its author) it is the mere wild reverie of a heated imagination. To put the matter in a clear light, it will be only necessary to describe the part which the missionaries really act, at least those in Bengal, and there is no reason to believe that the mode pursued by those in other parts of India is materially different.

It is in substance as follows:---A missionary hires a piece of ground by the side of some public road or thoroughfare. He builds a bungalow, or hut, on this ground; at certain times he goes into this bungalow, and begins reading a chapter in the Bible, or a part of a tract. From five to fifty natives are induced to enter the bungalow, or to stand at the door of it, and listen to what the missionary reads. When the congregation is sufficiently numerous, he leaves off reading and begins to address them. Whilst he is speaking, some of his hearers, either from not being sufficiently interested, or from not having sufficient leisure, walk out of the bungalow, and go on their way. Fresh persons arrive and supply their places, and the congregation keeps fluctuating, and either increasing or diminishing, according to the abilities of the speaker to excite the interest and attention of his

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