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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 ac 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 eyer.

"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

tinued in succession in different provinces, unto this time. The present state of the mission, will appear by the following extract from the journal of the author's tour through these provinces.

Tranquebar, 25th August, 1806. "Tranquebar was the first scene of the protestant mission in India. There are at present three missionaries here, superintending the Hindoo congregations. Yesterday I visited the church built by ZIEGENBALG. His body lies on one side of the altar, and that of his fellow missionary GRUNDLER on the other. Above are the epitaphs of both, written in Latin, and engraved on plates of brass. The church was consecrated in 1718, and Ziegenbalg and his companion died in two years after. They laid the foundation for evangelizing India, and then departed, 'having finished the work, which was given them to do.' I saw also the dwelling-house of Ziegenbalg, in the lower apartment of which the registers of the church are still kept. In these I found the name of the first heathen baptized by him, and recorded in his own hand-writing in the year 1707. In Ziegenbalg's church, and from the pulpit where he stood, I first heard the gospel preached to a congregation of Hindoos, in their own tongue. The missionaries told me that religion had suffered much in Tranquebar, of late years, from European infidelity. French principles had corrupted the Danes, and rendered them indifferent to their own religion, and therefore hostile to the conversion of the Hindoos. 'Religion,' said they, 'flourishes more among the natives of Tanjore and in other provinces where there are few Europeans, than here or at Madras; for we find that European example in the large towns, is the bane of christain instruction.' One instance of hostility to the mission they mentioned, as having occurred only a few weeks before my arri

val.

On the 9th of July, 1756; the native chris

tians at Tranquebar celebrated a jubilee, in commemoration of the fiftieth year since the christian ministers brought the Bible from Europe. The present year 1806, being the second 50th, preparations were made at Tranquebar for the second jubilee, on the 9th of last month; but the French principles preponderating in the government, they would not give it any public support; in consequence of which it was not observed with that solemnity which was intended. But in other places, where there were few Europeans, it was celebrated by the native Christians with enthusiasm and every demonstration of joy. When I expressed my astonishment at this hostility, the aged missionary, Dr. John, said, 'I have always remarked that the disciples of Voltaire are the true enemies of missions, and that the enemies of missions are, in general, the disciples of Voltaire.'

"Tanjore, 30th August, 1806. "On my entering this province, I stopped an hour at a village near the road; and there I first heard the name of Swartz pronounced by a Hindoo. When I arrived at the capital, I waited on major Blackburne, the British resident at the court of Tanjore, who informed me that the Rajah had appointed the next day at 12 o'clock to receive my visit. On the same day I went to Swartz's garden close to the christian village, where the rev. Mr. Kohloff resides. Mr. Kohloff is the worthy successor of Mr. Swartz; and with him I found the rev. Dr. John, and Mr. Horst, two other missionaries who were on a visit to Mr. Kohloff.

"Next day I visited the Rajah of Tanjore, in company with major Blackburne. When the first ceremonial was over, the Rajah conducted us to the grand saloon, which was adorned by the portraits of his ancestors; and immediately led me up to the portrait of Mr. Swartz. He then discoursed for a considerable time concerning that 'good man,' whom he

ever revered as 'his father, and guardian.' The Rajah speaks and writes English very intelligibly. I smiled to see Swartz's picture amongst these Hindoo kings, and thought with myself that there are many who would think such a combination scarcely possible. I then addressed the Rajah, and thanked him, in the name of the church of England, for his kindness to the late Mr. Swartz, and to his successors, and particularly for his recent acts of benevolence to the Christians residing within his provinces. The missionaries had just informed me that the Rajah had erected 'a college for Hindoos, Mahomedans, and Christians;' in which provision was made for the instruction of fifty Christian children.' His highness is very desirous that I should visit this college, which is only about sixteen miles from the capital. Having heard of the fame of the ancient Shanscrit, and Mahratta library of the kings of Tanjore, I requested his highness would present a catalogue of its volumes to the college of Fort-William; which he was pleased to do. It is volumnious, and written in the Mahratta character; for that is the proper language of the Tanjore court.

"In the evening I dined with the resident, and the rajah sent his band of music, consisting of eight or more vinas, with other instruments. The vina, or been, is the ancient instrument which Sir William Jones has described in his interesting descant on the musical science of the Hindoos, in the Asiatic Researches, and the sight of which, he says, he found it so difficult to obtain in northern India. The band played the English air of 'God save the King,' set to Mahratta words, and applied to the maha rajah, or great king of Tanjore. Two of the missionaries dined at the resident's house, together with some English officers. Mr. Kohloff informed me that major Blackburne has promoted the interests of the mission by every means in his power. Major Blackburne is a man of superior attainments, amiable man

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