was a clause for an "Establishment of Missionaries and Schoolmasters." Such an establishment (if it ever should be necessary) might seem more properly to follow, than to precede, the recognition of our national church in Hindostan. It is probable however, that the proposition for sending missionaries was less favorably received on account of the reigning prejudice against the name and character of "missionary." In England it is not professional in church or state. No honour or emolument is attatched to it. The character and purpose of it are doubtful, and the scene of action remote. Even the propriety of sending missionaries any where has been called into question.

2. It is not, however, those who send missionaries, but those to whom they are sent, who have a right to give an opinion in this matter.

The same spirit which sent missionaries to Britain in the fourth century will continue to send missionaries to the heathen world to the end of time, by the established church, or by her religious societies.

3. Wherever the Christian missionary comes, he is well received. Ignorance ever bows to learning: but if there be a desire to impart this learning, what barbarian will turn away? The priests will murmur when the Christian teacher speaks as one having authority; but "the common people will hear him gladly." Whether in the subterranean hut of frozen Greenland, or under the shade of a banian-tree in burning India, a Christian missionary surrounded by the listening natives, is an interesting sight; no less grateful to humanity than to Christian charity.

4. But who is this missionary? He is such as Swartz in India, or Brainerd in America, or the Moravian in Labrador; one who leaving his country and kindred, and renouncing honour and emolument, embraces a life of toil, 'difficulty and danger; and contented with the fame of instructing the igno

rant, "looks for the recompence of eternal reward." There is a great difference between a civilizing mechanic and an apostolic missionary. A mechanic of decent morals is no doubt useful among barbarians. The few around him learn something of his morals with his trade. And it is the duty of civilized states to use such means for improving the barbarous portion of the human race.

But the apostolic missionary, who has studied the language and genius of the people, is a blessing of a higher order. His heavenly doctrine and its moral influence extend, like the light of the sun, over multitudes in a short time; giving life, peace, and joy, enlarging the conceptions; and giving birth to all the Christian charities. How shall we estimate the sum, of human happiness produced by the voice of Swartz alone! Compared with him, as a dispenser of happiness, what are a thousand preachers of philosophy among a refined people!

5. Some of the English think that we ought not "to disturb the faith of the natives." But some of the Hindoo Rajahs think differently. The king of Tanjore requested Mr. Swartz to disturb the faith of his wicked subjects by every means, and to make them, if possible, honest and industrious men. Mr. Swartz endeavored to do so, and his services were acknowledged by the English government at Madras* as well as by the king of Tanjore. In the year 1787 "the king of Tanjore made an appropriation forever, of land of the yearly income of five hundred pagodas, for the support of the Christian missionaries in his dominions."+

6. In the debate in one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three, on the proposal for sending missionaries to India, some observation was made on Mr. Swartz, honourable to himself as a man, but un

By Lord Macartney and General Coote.

+See account of Proceedings of Society for promoting Christian knowledg for 1788.

favourable to his objects as a missionary. The paper containing this speech reached Mr. Swa rtz in India, and drew from him his famous Apology, published by the society for promoting Christian knowledge. Perhaps no Christian defence has appeared in these latter ages more characteristic of the apostolic simplicity and primitive energy of truth, than this apology of the venerable Swartz.

Without detailing the extraordinary success of himself and his brethren in converting thousands of the natives to the Christian religion, a blessing which some may not be able to appreciate; he notices other circumstances of its beneficial influence, which all must understand.

His fellow missionary, "Mr. Gericke; at the time the war broke out at Cuddalore, was the instrument in the hand of providence, by which Cuddalore was saved from plunder and bloodshed. He saved many English gentlemen from becoming prisoners to Hyder Ali; which Lord Macartney kindly acknowledged."

Mr. Swartz twice saved the fort of Tanjore. When the credit of the English was lost, and when the credit of the Rajah was lost, on the view of an approaching enemy, the people of the country refused to supply the fort with provisions; and the streets were covered with the dead. But Mr. Swartz went forth and stood at the gate, and at his word they brought in a plentiful supply.

Mr. Swartz, at different times, aided the English government in the collection of revenues from the refractory districts. He was appointed guardian to the family of the deceased king of Tanjore; and he was employed repeatedly as mediator between the English government and the country powers. On one occasion, when the natives doubted the purpose

Serfogee Maha Rajar of Tanjore. See society proceedings for 1801, p 141 Let us hail this act as the emblem of the whole Hindoo superstition bending.10 The Christian faith.

and good faith of the English, they applied to Mr. Swartz; "Sir, if you send a person to us, send a person who has learned all your Ten Commandments."

7. Some of the English think that we ought not to disturb the faith of the Hindoos! After the apostolic Swartz had labored for fifty years in evangelizing the Hindoos, so sensible were they of the blessing, that his death was considered as a public calamity. An innumerable multitude attended the funeral. The Hindoo Rajah "shed a flood of tears over the body, and covered it with a gold cloth." His memory is still blessed among the people. The king of Tanjore has lately written to the bishops of the English, church requesting that a monument of marble may be sent to him "in order," he adds, "that it may be erected in the church which is in my capital, to perpetuate the memory of the rev. Mr. Swartz, and manifest the esteem I have for the character of that great and good man, and the gratitude I owe to him, my father and my friend."

8. But whence was this Swartz? and under what sanction did he and his predecessors exersise their ministry as Christian preachers to the heathen?

The first person appointed to superintend a protestant mission in India was Bartholomew Ziegenbalgius a man of considerable learning and of emient piety, educated at the university of Haile in Germany. Having been ordained by the learned Burmanus, bishop of Zealand, in his twenty-third year, he sailed for India in one thousand seven hundred

and five. A complete century will have revolved in October of this year, since the mission in India began. Immediately on his arrival, he applied himself to the study of the language of the country, and with such success, that in a few years he obtained a classical knowledge of it; and the colloquial tongue became as familliar to him as his own. His fluent orations addressed to the native, and his, frequent con

ferences with the Brahmins, were attended with almost immediate success; and a Christian church was founded in the second year of his ministry, which has been extending its limits to the present time.

9. During his residence in India, he maintained a correspondence with the king of England and other prices, and with many of the learned men on the continent. In the year seventeen hundred and fourteen, he returned to Europe for a few months on the affairs of the mission. On this occasion he was honored with an audience by his Majesty George the First. He was also invited to attend a sitting of the Bishops in the "Society for promoting Christian knowledge;" where he was received with an eloquent address in the Latin language; to which he answered in the Tamul tongue; and then delivered a copy of his speech translated into Latin.

10. The grand work to which the King and English bishops had been long directing his attention, was a translation of the scriptures into the Tamul or Malabarian language.

This indeed was the grand work; for wherever the scriptures are translated into the vernacular tongue, and are open and common to all, inviting enquiry and causing discussion, they cannot remain a dead letter; they produce fruit of themselves, even without a teacher. When a heathen views the word of God in all its parts, and hears it addressing him in his own familiar tongue, his conscience responds, "this is the word of God." The learned man who produces a translation of the Bible into a new language, is a greater benefactor to mankind than the prince who founds an empire. The "incorruptable seed of the word of God" can never die. After ages have revolved, it is still producing new accessions to truth and human happiness.

So diligent in his studies was this eminent missionary, that before the year seventeen hundred and

A votume of these conferences was published in London in 1719, 8vo.