additions. There are now four hundred and thirty-two pages of the Sunscrit grammar (large quarto) printed off. I expect that there will be nearly as much

more.'

'W. CAREY.'

As this is the first time in progress of the memoir in which the subject of the baptismal controversy occurs, it may be allowable to accompany it with a few remarks. It was to be apprehended, that between the denomination to which Mr. Carey pertained, and other communities, some degree of collision, in the course of their missionary labours, would be unavoidable. When the question at issue is not speculative and sentimental, nor one of ecclesiastical polity, but of positive obedience, initiatory to the christian profession; and, as the controversy embraces both the subject and the mode of the ordinance in question, there was no possibility of escaping the difficulty; nor was any honourable course open to either party, but that of permitting the other, both in preaching and in organizing churches, to follow out their own conviction of truth and duty, and in the solemn work of translation, to give a simple and faithful version, without hesitation and without compromise.

In this work the controversy is, of course, of verbal interest only, and, as far as the conduct of the subject of this memoir is concerned, may be expressed within the compass of a few lines. He felt convinced that the divine writers employ Greek words upon this

subject, signifying to immerse, and immersion. He found also that the greatest number, and they too the most profound, of biblical critics, candidly lend their suffrages to this interpretation. Thirdly, he conducted his labours under the solemn conviction that every part of the word of God should be translated unequivocally. That, in a positive institute, it seemed reasonable to suppose that the divine Lawgiver would choose words of explicit import, to be applied in their simple, primary, and literal sense; and that, if words fairly corresponding to them existed in the language into which a translation was making, it was incumbent upon a translator to adopt them. That it would not be wise to perpetuate a mere barbarism in other languages, because it is so done in our English version; nor did he deem it religious to choose any word of intermediate and ambiguous meaning, to escape either the labour or the odium of controversy. It was alleged, that the subject of this memoir had selected words, in reference to this ordinance, which signified drowning,' and 'to drown.' And it is much to be regretted that the same allegation has been recently repeated by our brethren of other denominations in their correspondence with the committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society; and that that body, upon such ground, should have resolved to withhold the resources of a catholic institution from labourers whom it does not deem incompetent, nor suspect of being unfaithful. Such an institution was never supposed to be an arbiter between different

sects of christians, but to be equally the friend and benefactor of them all. If it persevere in this course, it consents to resign the simple majesty of its catholicism, it descends from its high pre-eminence, and its glory departs.

MR. CAREY TO MR. Fuller.

Calcutta, Feb. 27th, 1804.

• VERY DEAR BROTHER,

The state of things among us is, in some respects, painful, and, in some, encouraging. I fear that there is a very great decline in the vital power of religion among some of our Hindu friends. We have on that account appointed the morning of next Lord's day to be a season of prayer and humiliation of soul, and of serious individual examination. May the Lord again shine upon us in answer to prayer!

'I have been just writing a letter to the society, informing them of our having engaged in a translation of the scriptures into the Hindusthani, Persian, Mahratta, and Oolkul languages, and of our intention to engage in more. Perhaps so many advantages for translating the bible into all the languages of the east will never meet in any one situation again, viz., a possibility of obtaining learned natives of all these countries, a sufficiency of worldly good things, with a moderate degree of annual assistance from England to carry us through it, a printing-office, a good library

of critical writings, a habit of translating, and disposition to do it.

"We have agreed to make an experiment, on a plan lately formed, to extend the mission, by setting up several subordinate stations, at about one hundred miles from each other, which we hope may maintain themselves by a little business, such as dealing in cloth, or whatever the situation may produce. Four brethren always to stay at Serampore, each station to communicate with them monthly, both about spiritual and temporal things, the whole to be public property and for the public good. Brother Chamberlain will be fixed in the first, which we intend to form immediately near Cutwa, on the banks of the Calcutta river, above Nuddea.

'I am,

'Very affectionately yours, 'WM. CAREY.'

MR. CAREY TO HIS SISTERS.

August 23rd, 1804.

'MY DEAR SISTERS,

*

'Through divine mercy we are all well, and, myself excepted, are labouring hard in the cause of our Lord Jesus. But this year has hitherto been marked with a very great number of distressing circumstances, which have been a cause of great pain to us. Yet we have not been without some encouragement. I think we have baptized eight persons, and I hope to baptize

three or four more in a week or two. Thus, though we have cause to lament the sins of some, we are also called to admire the abundant grace of the Lord our God, who always causeth us to rejoice in every place, and spreadeth abroad the savour of his name by our means. Oh, join with us in praising the Lord, and let us exalt his name together.

'I have, this evening, been preaching in English, from 2 Peter iii. 18. I endeavoured to define the grace of God, as consisting in sorrow for, and forsaking of, sin; in holy jealousy over ourselves, and care not to transgress; and in participation of that mind which was also in Christ Jesus. The knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ I considered as a hearty trusting in him for salvation, and receiving him as exhibited in the gospel. I defined growing in grace as consisting in frequently looking into ourselves; always seeking for more than we have already; and a continual desire to lay out for God's glory what we do obtain from him. Our hearers are but few, and I fear but little good is done, yet I dare not say that nothing is done.

'I preach on Wednesday evening in Bengali, to a small number of natives, chiefly Portuguese; on Thursday, in English, to some Europeans. On Lord's day, one of my brethren comes down, and I am always at Serampore. Who can tell but the Lord may return and be gracious?

'I never had better health in my life. Poor Mrs. C. is rather worse than better; a very distressing