casion was honored with an audience by his majesty George the first, who took much interest in the success of the mission. He was also patronized by "the society for promoting christian knowledge," which was superintended by men of distinguished learning and piety. The king and the society, encouraged the Oriental Missionary to proceed in his translation of the scriptures into the Tamul tongue, which they designated "the grand work." This was indeed the grand work; for wherever the scriptures are translated into the vernacular tongue, and are open and common to all, inviting inquiry and causing discussion, they cannot remain "a dead letter." When the scriptures speak to a heathen in his own tongue, his conscience responds, "This is the word of God." How little is the importance of a version of the Bible in a new language understood by some! The man who produces a translation of the Bible into a new language (like Wickliffe, and Luther, and Ziegenbalg, and Carey) is a greater benefactor to mankind then the prince who founds an empire. For the "incorruptible seed of the word of God" can never die. After ages have revolved, it is still producing new accessions to truth and human happiness. In the year 1719, Ziegenbalg finished the Bible in the Tamul tongue, having devoted fourteen years to the work. The peculiar interest taken by the king in this primary endeavor to evangelize the Hindoos will appear from the following letters, addressed to the Missionaries by his Majesty. "George, by the grace of God, king of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. to the reverend and learned Bartholomew Ziegenbalgius and John Ernest Grundlerus, missionaries at Tranquebar in the East Indies. "Reverend and Beloved, "Your letters dated the 20th of January of the present year, were most welcome to us; not only be cause the work undertaken by you of converting the heathen to the christian faith, doth, by the grace of God, prosper, but also because that, in this our kingdom, such a laudable zeal for the promotion of the gospel prevails. "We pray you may be endued with health and strength of body, that you may long continue to fulfil your ministry with good success; of which, as we shall be rejoiced to hear, so you will always find us ready to succour you in whatever may tend to promote your work, and to excite your zeal. We assure you of the continuance of our royal favor. "GEORGE R." "Given at our Palace of Hampton Court, the 23d of August, A. D. The king continued to cherish, with much solicitude, the interest of the mission, after the death of Ziegenbalgius; and in ten years from the date of the foregoing letter, a second was addressed to the members of the mission, by his Majesty. "Reverend and Beloved, "From your letters dated Tranquebar, the 12th of September, 1725, which some time since came to hand, we received much pleasure; since by them we are informed, not only of your zealous exertions in the prosecution of the work committed to you, but also of the happy suscess which hath hitherto attended it, and which hath been graciously given of. God. "We return you thanks for these accounts, and it will be acceptable to us, if you continue to communicate whatever shall occur in the progress of your mission. "In the mean time, we pray you may enjoy strength of body and mind for the long continuance of your labours in this good work, to the glory of God, and the promotion of christianity among the heathens; that its perpetuity may not fail in gene rations to come.* "GEORGE R." "Given at our Palace at St. James's, the 23d of February, 1727, in the 13th year of our Reign." But these royal epistles are not the only evangelic documents, of high authority, in the hands of the Hindoos. They are in possession of letters written by the archbishop of Canterbury, of the same reignt who supported the interests of the mission with unexampled liberality, affection and zeal. These letters, which are many in number, are all written in the Latin language. The following is a translation of his Grace's first letter; which appears to have been written by him as president of the "Society for promoting Christian Knowledge." "To Bartholomew Ziegenbalgius, and John Ernest Grundlerus, Preachers of the christian faith, on the coast of Coromandel. "As often as I behold your letters, reverend brethren, addressed to the venerable society instituted for the promotion of the gospel, whose chief honor and ornament ye are; and as often as I contemplate the light of the gospel, either now first. rising on the Indian nations, or after the intermission of some ages again revived, and as it were restored to its inheritance; I am constrained to magnify that singular goodness of God in visiting nations so re mote; and to account you, my brethren, highly honoured, whose ministry it hath pleased him to employ in this pious work, to the glory of his name and the salvation of so many millions of souls. "Let others indulge in a ministry, if not idle, certainly less laborious, among christians at home. Let them enjoy in the bosom of the church, titles Niecampius, Hist, Miss and honours, obtained without labour and without danger. Your praise it will be (a praise of endless duration on earth, and followed by a just recompense in heaven) to have laboured in the vineyard which yourselves have planted; to have declared the name of Christ, where it was not known before: and through much peril and difficulty to have converted to the faith those, among whom ye afterwards fulfilled your ministry. Your province, therefore, brethren, your office, I place before all dignities in the church. Let others be pontiffs, patriarchs, or Popes; let them glitter in purple, in scarlet or in gold; let them seek the admiration of the wondering multitude, and receive obeisance on the bended knee. Ye have acquired a better name than they, and a more sacred fame. And when that day shall arrive when the chief Shepherd shall give to every man act cording to his work, a greater reward shall be adjudged to you. Admitted into the glorious society of the prophets, evangelists and apostles, ye, with them shall shine, like the sun among the lesser stars, in the kingdom of your Father, for ever.. "Since then so great honour is now given unto you by all competent judges on earth, and since so great a reward is laid up for you in heaven; go forth with alacrity to that work, to the which the Holy Ghost hath called you. God hath already given to you an illustrious pledge of his favor, an increase not to be expected without the aid of his grace. Ye have begun happily, proceed with spirit. He, who hath carried you safely through the dangers of the seas to such a remote country, and who hath given you favor in the eyes of those whose countenance ye most desired; he who hath so liberally and unexpectedly. ministered unto your wants, and who doth now daily add members to your church; he will continue to prosper your endeavors, and will subdue unto himself, by your means, the whole continent of oriental India. "O happy men! who, standing before the tribunal of Christ, shall exhibit so many nations converted to his faith by your preaching; happy men! to whom it shall be given to say before the assembly of the whole human race, "behold us, O Lord, and the children whom thou hast given us;" happy men! who being justified by the Savior, shall receive in that day the reward of your labors, and also shall hear that glorious encomium; "well done, good and faithful servants, enter ye into the joy of your Lord." "May Almighty God graciously favor you and your labors, in all things." May he send to your aid fellow-laborers, such and as many as ye wish. May he increase the bounds of your churches. May he open the hearts of those to whom ye preach the gospel of Christ, that hearing you, they may receive life-giving faith. May he protect you and yours from all evils and dangers. And when ye arrive, (may it be late) at the end of your course, may the same God, who hath called you to this work of the gospel, and hath preserved you in it, grant to you the reward of your labor, an incorruptible crown of glory. "These are the fervent wishes and prayers of, venerable brethren, your most faithful fellow-servant in Christ, "GULIELMUS CANT.” "From our palace at Lambeth, January 7, A. D. 1719." Providence hath been pleased to grant the prayer of the king, "that the work might not fail in generations to come," and the prophecy of his archbishop is likely to be fulfilled, that it should extend "over the whole continent of Oriental India." After the first missionary Ziegenbalg had finished his course, he was followed by other learned and zealous men, upwards of fifty in number in the period of a hundred years, among whom were Schultz, Iænicke, Gericke, and Swartz, whose ministry has been con |