64 THE FAITHFUL LABOURER AT REST. [JUNE, the affectionate hand of Mr. Lincké, the Missionary under whom he laboured The subject of this narrative was first brought to the knowledge of the truth by the instrumentality of the late Mr. Alexander, when stationed at Culna as a catechist of the Church Missionary Society; and Culna being then connected with Burdwan, where I was located at that time, I happened to baptize him, and, on one of my official visits to Culna, which I think must have been in 1834, I also married him to a girl brought up by the late Mrs. Alexander, who, to the very last, acted the part of a mother to her, the now sorrowing widow; but I never contemplated that I should also have the mournful duty of burying him. Lockon, that was his former name, when a candidate for baptism, already endeavoured, I believe, to learn to read and to write Bengalí; and Mr. Alexander, perceiving such a laudable desire in him, afforded him both the means and opportunity of acquiring a very fair portion of either, and, as soon as he found him advanced enough, employed him as a teacher in one of his schools. By unremitting exertions, diligence, and good conduct, he rose higher and higher in the estimation of his employer, who advanced him also in his employment; so that when Mr. Alexander was transferred to Solo, Krishnagurh district, in 1838 or 1839, Luke accompanied him in the capacity of Scripture reader and superintendant of schools, and there he soon rose to be the first of Mr. Alexander's assistants, and was styled catechist. In this capacity he continued to labour to the end of his life, and a more faithful and diligent labourer the Church Missionary Society could hardly find amongst all their different agents. Luke possessed a great deal of good common sense, which he brought eminently to bear upon every thing he put his mind or hand to; and, ever willing and anxious to learn, and to profit from every occurrence, person, &c., he had improved his mind wonderfully, and, carefully and faithfully applying and employing every gift and acquirement, he eminently became, in every way, a practical and most useful man, possessing naturally a great deal of energy and zeal, qualities not very frequently met with amongst our native Christians-nay, not even amongst the natives in general. Being for the most part a self-educated man, he possessed some originality, and the similes which he would bring forward to illustrate some subject or other were often remarkable and striking. A heathen sircar, who knew him well, said to me, only the other day, pundit without his having studied." "Luke was a He also was endued with much discrimination of character, and his good sense taught him how to treat each individual accordingly, by which he easily made his way amongst his countrymen; and this also greatly contributed to render his endeavours with them successful. Though he was a child of simplicity, yet he had so much wisdom, and his ideas and feelings were so European-like, that he never committed himself so as to give occasion for taunt or ridicule. I need not say that he was honest, truthful, and upright, and, though so much elevated in his condition and circumstances, yet he never 1856.] THE FAITHFUL LABOURER AT REST. 65 showed pride, but was and remained humble to the last; for he did not forget that "by the grace of God he was what he was," and 1 Tim. iv. 8, was most remarkably exemplified in his case. Yes, it was grace that had made him what he was, and it was the exhibition of it in his consistent Christian life and conversation which gave him such a weight in society; for he was a leading, if not the leading man amongst all our native assistants in this district. It was likewise that which procured him honour and respect from all with whom he came into contact, a favour which he so extensively and remarkably, but also deservedly, enjoyed: yea, he had "a good report of them which are without," and was frequently quoted both by Hindus and Mussulmans as "a Christian indeed." A Hindu babu, hearing of his death, remarked, "If Luke had been a Mussulman he would now be made a peri (saint) and be honoured and worshipped as such." People could not but perceive that he lived not for himself, but for the good of others; not grasping after money, or desirous of accumulating riches, a prevailing passion amongst many: no, he laid out himself and all he had for the benefit of his fellow-men, proving himself a good and faithful steward of the things entrusted to him. Another pleasing feature in him was his cheerful and strict obedience to his superiors. You could depend on his executing your wishes to the very best of his power, and felt only sorry he could not do more. He was always at his post-not waiting for orders, as many do-and ever ready for every good work: in short, he was in every respect "far above his fellows." All the Missionaries esteemed him highly, and those who knew him more, loved him. He has sometimes been called "a burning and a shining light," and been pointed out as one "whose praise is in all the churches;" and truly so it was. What I have lost in him I cannot express, neither can the loss our congregation has sustained in his removal be sufficiently estimated: in fact, his death is a general loss, not only directly to the Bollobpur congregation, but also indirectly to every one else in this district, and, I may add, to the heathen too, in more than one way. A poor woman said, "This man will be raised high in heavenly glory, because numbers of people of all classes weep and lament for him." Indeed, the sympathy evinced by the natives all around is very great. Drawing towards the close, I must mention, that, during the latter part of last month, there was much sickness amongst the children in our village, and many of them have died since. Luke was going from house to house, both by day and night, administering medicine and comfort to the sick and distressed. In the midst of this, cholera broke out, and new anxiety, pain, death, and lamentations, came along with it. Luke again was found near the sick and the dying. Also two persons of his own household fell ill, to whom he attended most assiduously, till he was fairly worn out with anxiety, labour, watchings, &c.; when one morning, the 1st instant, he was himself seized with that dreadful epidemic; but it was only after noon that the symptoms became serious and alarming. Every one now, men, women, and children, pressed round him, anxious to see or to serve and assist him. A Hindu neighbour, who had come to see him, said afterwards to me, that he-Luke-had been attended like a king; referring to the number of persons about him, all wishing to do 66 66 CALL TO UNITED PRAYER. [JUNE, him some kind service or other. Between two and three P.M. he seems to have given up hope, and desired to take leave of Mrs. Lincké and my. self, asking us to give him our hands, and said, with a cheerful countenance, My labours on earth are now finished, and the promised rest is at hand." He also spake of the crown which Jesus Himself would place upon his head, and repeated a verse from a Bengalí hymn bearing on the same subject. In the intervals between the paroxysms he would pray, and repeat appropriate passages from the word of God. Whilst he was yet able to kneel-before two P.M.-he had asked those around him to pray with him and for him, which was done twice. He expired about eleven P.M. of the same day, and doubtless his spirit has entered into that rest which he looked forward to with so much desire and joy. One reason why the idea of rest was so sweet to him-for he spoke several times of it-may be, his having been of late so very much harassed, fatigued, and worn out, both in body and mind. His age was about forty, I believe. He had only one child of his own, who died of cholera in 1849, at the age of ten. He has left a widow and four adopted children unprovided for. Three of them are the children of a pious reader or catechist, who, at the time of his death, committed them to his care; and the fourth is the child of a near relative of his, who died as a Mussulman about two years ago. His coffin was made of planks which he had reserved for this purpose for some time past. His papers, both public and private, I found in the most excellent order, down to the very day of his death. In conclusion, permit me to express my earnest desire and prayer that the seed this faithful servant of God has sown so bountifully may spring up and bear fruit, and that many of our native assistants may follow his example, especially his zeal in and for the work of the Lord. It is contemplated to raise a small tablet to the memory of so worthy a man in the Bollobpur Church. wwww CALL TO UNITED PRAYER. THE members of the late Paris Conference have invited Christians of all lands to unite in presenting their prayers on Monday mornings for the following objects 1. For the prosperity of the church of Christ; especially imploring the blessing of God on Missionary labours, whether home or foreign. 2. For the union of Christians in each country, and for the union of Christians of different countries, as all constituting the different members of the same body, which is the church of Christ. 3. That it may please God speedily to remove the obstacles which prevent the universal extension of His kingdom, and to put an end to every system of error, idolatry, and unbelief, which opposes itself to the doctrine of the gospel. 4. That He would be pleased to hasten the general accomplishment of prophecy, and of those promises in particular which are made to Israel, and to the world at large through them. 5. That all who unite in these prayers may, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, make progress in faith, in sanctification, and in spiritual peace. INCREASING FACILITIES FOR MISSIONARY WORK IN CHINA. IT is difficult to surmise what may be the issue of the civil war which is now raging in China. At one time many were sanguine, as well with respect to the Christianity of Taeping Wang's followers, as to their ultimate success: others were doubtful respecting both. At present it would appear that the attempt of the insurgents to possess themselves of the provinces north of the Yang-tze-kiang, and capture Pekin itself, has been unsuccessful; and that not only have they been driven back, but hemmed in by the imperialists at Nanking and Chinkeang; while within the walls they have to contend with still more formidable enemies-famine and pestilence. It is to be feared, also, that the hopes entertained that there existed 68 FACILITIES FOR MISSIONARY WORK IN CHINA. [JUNE, among the insurgents a Christian element of considerable force and vigour, which would eventually develope itself into something more decided and generally influential, are also doomed to be disappointed. Whether this fierce conflagration shall be extinguished, or, recovering strength, kindle up again, and rush forth anew to overthrow and prevail, we know not. But this we know-and we desire to record it with unfeigned thankfulness-that there never was a period when the Chinese were so willing to hear, or when the Missionaries had such opportunities of intercourse with them. We mentioned in our last Number that our Missionary Burdon, at Shanghae, lives in a native boat, and uses the net-work of canals and rivers as the high road by which to visit numerous towns and cities to teach and preach Jesus Christ. The following communication from our Missionary Cobbold, at Ningpo, will show that there also there exists the greatest possible encouragement— A large tract of country has been visited, and supplied with tracts and Scriptures; the gospel preached in hundreds of villages, and in twentysix cities, all but three or four of which were before untouched by the Missionary. It is interesting, in connexion with this, to know that our dialect was generally understood through the whole of the districts visited. The people invariably seemed delighted to see us, and paid a ready attention to the truths of revelation: the field, in fact, was sown with the seed of the word; and we may say in confidence that it will meet with the result predicted-not understood by some, and quickly snatched away and perishing; received by others, but choked or scorched; and bringing forth fruit to perfection, according to the purpose of God's grace, and the measure of His appointment. While it would be desirable, on some accounts, that the country should be open by treaty, as ensuring the permanence of our work, yet if matters remained as they are, nothing could well be better. The authorities offered no opposition; the people were always ready to receive us; monasteries, temples, inns, and sometimes private dwellings, were thrown open to our reception; and our only ground of concern was, lest we should bring into trouble those who had given us harbour or provided us with the means of conveyance. This has sometimes been the case, but we have no reason to think that it was so in our journeys, and some precautions were taken at important places to prevent its being done. Besides this visitation of places more distant from our station, much more work, during the year, has been done in the neighbourhood by ourselves and our fellow-Missionaries of other churches. The district of Sze Che has been once and again visited, and a body of religionists met with to the north of that district who gave us great hope that they, both men and women, may come over to the truth. It is seriously contemplated to send our catechist to reside in one of the large towns in the above-mentioned district, where we could frequently visit him, and strengthen his hands in the work. The chief value of such Missionary excursions as those referred to above may perhaps be reduced to three heads: first, a knowledge is communicated to the people that there are men and women in China seeking the welfare of the people, and endeavouring, at some sacrifice, to do them good in body and mind; secondly, positive good is effected by the communication of the great |