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'then how could the koran come to confirm it: if it was corrupted, it needed correction, not confirmation.' Being driven to the last shift, they said, 'Mahomed was the friend of God, but Esu, by whom they mean Jesus, was the spirit of God:' to which Moonshi shrewdly replied, "Then which would you think highest, your friend, or your soul or spirit? All this they bore with great good temper; but what effect it may have, time must determine. Many more things were said to recommend the gospel, and the way of life by Christ; and as night came on we left them.

20. This has been a day of seeking money. Had on offer of a bungalow, belonging to the company, at Deharta, till I can get a place made for myself and family: so that it has been a day of mercy, though, to my shame, of spiritual barrenness.

21. Felt some pleasure in the morning in prayer, but all the rest of the day was at an awful distance from God. This evening I had a very profitable conversation with Moonshi, about spiritual things; and I do hope that he may one day be a very useful and eminent man. I am so well able to understand him, and he me, that we are determined to begin correcting the translation of Genesis to-morrow.

22. I am full of perplexity about temporal things; but the word of God is sure, which abundantly promises every thing that I can want. My wife has, within this day or two, relapsed into her affliction, and is much worse than she was before; but in the mount the Lord is seen. I wish I had but more of God in my soul, and felt more submission in my heart

to his will; this would set me above all things else. I feel happy, however, in this, that I am in my work, and that is the work of God; and the more I am employed in it, the more I find it a rich reward.

23. This day I feel what it is to have the testimony of a good conscience, even in the smallest matters. My temporal troubles remain just as they were. I have a place, but cannot remove my family to it for want of money. Mr. T. has now begun to set his face another way. At his motion I went to Calcutta; then to Bandell, at which place all our money was expended. He ordered all the expenses, and lived in his own way; to which I acceded, though sore against my will. He was inclined first, then determined, to practise surgery at Calcutta. I agreed to come and settle as near him as possible, though I had previously intended to go to Gowr, near Malda; and all this that I might not be first in a breach of our mutual undertaking. Now he is buying, and selling, and living at the rate of I know not how much, I suppose 250 or 300 rupees per month, has twelve servants, and this day is talking of keeping his coach. I have remonstrated with him in vain, and I am almost afraid that he intends to throw up the mission. How all these things can be agreeable to a spiritual mind, I know not. But now all my friends are but one; I rejoice, however, that he is all-sufficient, and can supply all my wants, spiritual and temporal. My heart bleeds for him, for my family, for the Society, whose steadfastness must be shaken by this report, and for the success of the mission, which must receive a sad blow

from this. But why is my soul disquieted within me? Things may turn out better than I expect: every thing is known to God, and God cares for the mission. O for contentment, delight in God, and much of his fear before my eyes! Bless God, I feel peace within, and rejoice in having undertaken the work, and shall, I feel I shall, if I not only labour alone, but even if I should lose my life in the undertaking. I anxiously desire the time when I shall so far know the language as to preach in earnest to these poor people.

24. I wish to feel myself always in the exercise of a spirit of meekness, but feel it hard work. Yesterday my mind was much hurt to see what I thought a degree of selfishness in my friend, which amounted to an almost total neglect of me, my family, and the mission; though I do not think he seriously intends to neglect either, but inadvertently runs into such things as make it impossible to attend to either. This morning went to visit a professor of religion to whom I was recommended at the Isle of Wight; but, to my sorrow, found him at dice. From thence went to visit the Rev * He is an evangelical preacher of the church of England, and received me with cool politeness. I staid near an hour with him; found him a very sensible man; but a marked disgust prevails, on both sides, between him and Mr. T. He carried himself as greatly my superior, and I left him without his having so much as asked me to take any refreshment, though he knew I had walked five miles in the

* This same gentleman, to his commendation we record it, became afterwards one of the best friends of the Baptist Mission.

heat of the sun. To-day found my mind more calm, but the evening was turbulent and stormy.

25. Was employed in buying some necessaries for our removal into the wilderness, and after that was done, further engaged in correcting Genesis. There are some things that have no name in name in Bengali, being utterly unknown, as whales; but found no very great difficulties to-day. Have reason to bless God for a day of quietness and calmness, though I must mourn over my barrenness, and the strange stupidity of my heart. I have abundant cause for thankfulness, but have an unthankful heart. I feel pleasure in the work and ways of God, but have a disobedient soul. When will the Lord take full possession of my mind, and abide there for ever?

'26. Lord's day. All the morning I had a most unpleasant time, but at last found much pleasure in reading Edwards on the Justice of God in the damnation of sinners. Then went to visit our congregation of natives again; they gave very great attention, and all the Mussulmans present (except the keeper of the consecrated place, and one or two fakirs) acknowledged that the offerings made to the Peer, or soul of the dead man whose tomb was consecrated, were made without any command, either in the koran or elsewhere. The person who acted as priest or keeper of the place, was so ashamed when we told him that all the offerings were made to his belly, that he went away confounded with the laughter of the people. Their inquisitiveness and numbers increase; and one Hindu appeared more than ordinarily anxious to

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know what was the right way. I wish that we might see some good fruit of our labours; and doubt not but we shall soon have some reason to rejoice in the salvation of God.

"27. This morning went to Bahayut to procure a boat to carry us over the lakes to the place where we hope to go. Through the delays of my companion, I have spent another month and done scarcely any thing, except that I have added to my knowledge of the language, and had opportunity of seeing much more of the genius and disposition of the natives than I otherwise could have known. This day finished the correction of the first chapter of Genesis, which Moonshi says is rendered into very good Bengali. Just as we had finished it, a Pundit and another man from Nuddea came to see me. I showed it to them; and the Pundit seemed much pleased with the account of the creation; only they have an imaginary place somewhere beneath the earth, and he thought that should have been mentioned likewise. I said that the earth was a planet, and that heavens and earth included all the material creation. There are several minutiae of geography and chronology which it is necessary to explain, as they have many superstitious opinions which enter deeply into their system of idolatry.

28. This morning I was at Calcutta. Again disappointed about money. Was much dejected and grieved. Advised with Moonshi, who is my trusty friend, but could find no settled plan. In the evening had much relief in reading over Mr. Fuller's

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