vations, in an unrestrained intercourse with people of all castes and religions, during a period of thirty years almost entirely passed among the natives." (pp. 202-3.)

The reader, taking into consideration the success which has actually attended the endeavours employed to disseminate Christianity in Hindostan, together with the contradiction involved in the Abbé's own representations, will form his own opinion concerning the credibility of the assertion, that there is no opening to approach the Hindoos.

A third sentiment may also be now touched upon, which the author has in a similar manner advanced without sufficient warrant; on the contrary, in opposition to the principles of the Bible and to fact. I refer to his assertion that the Hindoos are incapable of acquiring new ideas.

"The education of all Hindoos," he says, "renders them incapable of acquiring new ideas; and every thing which varies from the established customs, is rather odious, or at least indifferent to them. It is not that they want wit, penetration, and aptness in the matters in which they were brought up, or those in which their temporal interests are compromised; but it is impossible to instil new principles, or infuse new ideas into their minds." (p. 67.)

The fact that such a number of natives have

actually embraced the gospel, and made a credible profession of their faith in Christ; and the fact that some of them have intelligibly and successfully preached the gospel to others, and written tracts both to explain and recommend the doctrines and duties of Christianity to their countrymen; completely refute the Abbé's assertion, that the Hindoos are incapable of acquiring new ideas. The fourth sentiment maintained by the Abbé, and proved to be erroneous by the actual success among the natives of India, is that which exhibits the Hindoos as in a state of reprobation, and given up of God to final and inevitable perdition.

"Are we not warranted," says the Abbé, "on beholding the unnatural and odious worship which prevails all over India, in thinking that these unhappy people are lying under an everlasting anathema; that by obstinately refusing to listen to the voice of the heavens, which declare the glory of God, they have for ever rendered themselves unworthy of the divine favours; that by obstinately rejecting the word of God, which has been in vain announced to them without intermission, during the last three or four centuries, they have filled up the measure of their fathers, have been entirely forsaken by God, and (what is the worst of divine vengeance) given over for ever to a reprobate mind, on account of the peculiar wickedness of their worship, which

supposes, in those among whom it prevails, a degree of perversity far beyond that of all old pagan nations?" (p. 112.)

In harmony with this dreadful sentiment, the Abbé advises all missionaries to abandon the Hindoos to their doom, and to make no further efforts for their recovery to the favour of God, and to ultimate happiness.

"It is true," he says, referring to our Lord, "that he utters at the same time dreadful threats against the obdurate unbelievers who shall shut their ears to the word of God; but he takes upon himself the punishment of their obduracy on the day of retribution: all that he recommends his disciples in such circumstances is, not to be stiff or too troublesome, not to insist and strive to enforce by all means the impugned truth on the minds of their hearers; but rather to yield, to submit by a patient resignation and forbearance; quietly to quit the places and countries so ill disposed to hear the truth, and to leave these people in their hardness of heart." (pp. 44-5.)

The fearfully bold declaration, that the Hindoos are abandoned of God to inevitable and everlasting destruction, might be repelled by disproving the assertion on which the Abbé's assumption mainly rests. He declares that they have had the word of God announced to them, without

intermission, during the last three or four centuries. This is not the case; the great bulk of the Hindoos have to this day never had the gospel presented to their minds. It might be met also by the Abbe's subsequent "Vindication of the Hindoos, Male and Female," wherein he exhibits them in an amiable point of view, and is highly offended with those who have drawn their characters in opposite colours. But the assertion is completely refuted by the cheering fact, that a great number of them, and even Brahmins among the number, have actually embraced the gospel, and that among these converts several have laboured diligently to disseminate the knowledge of salvation among their countrymen all around.

K

CHAPTER X.

Answer to the Abbe's insinuation, that Protestant Missionaries, in the reports of their successes, have imposed upon the Public.

THERE is a passage in the Abbé's book, which, though I believe it is the only one of the kind, is yet of too grave a nature to be passed by without a distinct reply.

66

Respecting the new missionaries of several sects who have of late years made their appearance in the country," says the Abbé, "you may rest assured, as far as my information on the subject goes, that notwithstanding the pompous reports made by several among them, all their endeavours to make converts have till now proved abortive, and that their successes are only to be seen on paper." (p. 21.)

The Abbé here insinuates that the Protestant missionaries, who have arrived in India in recent