as their advanced years, and in some a decrepit age, will permit) we endeavor to bring up more and more in the true spirit of Christianity, that so the image of Satan may be destroyed in the hearts of the Pagans, and the image of God be renewed in its stead,

"We have here with sent you a short System of Divinity, summed up in thirty-four heads or articles. It is written on leaves, in the Malabarian manner, and we hope you will allow it a place in your library.

"As to our temporal concerns, our straits are now more pressing than they have ever been before; and if God does not become a present help in this want, the help of man seems very remote as yet, since no Danish ship is arrived, by which we might expect some relief. May the Almighty support and comfort us with his favor, especially when our enemies, by reason of those difficulties, do boast, that this work will come to nothing at last, and as much as in them lies, endeavor to stop the stream of other people's beneficence.

"We beseech you therefore, most worthy patrons with all possible earnestness, that that helping hand which you have hitherto so piously lent to this work, may also be continued hereafter for our support and encouragement, in so weighty an undertaking: particularly (since it is your endeavor, as well as ours,) that the knowledge of Jesus Christ may be planted in the uncultivated hearts of the Heathen.

"May God Almighty preserve you by his divine providence, that you may long continue to promote the saving truth that is in Jesus.'

"Tranquebar, Sept. 27, 1713.-Those things which you judged necessary to write to us about the 24th of December 1713, did safely come to our hands upon the coast of Coromandel, the 8th of August 1714, where we received, with the profoundest respect; the councils and paternal instruc tions you have been pleased to give us.

"The usual present of books, together with the sum of 701. English money collected by you for the benefit of this Mission, and transmitted for our assistance here, we receive with the highest gratitude; humbly beseeching the most gracious God to reward the bounty of the benefactors with a plentiful return of heavenly riches.

"As to what concerns in particular, most worthy gentlemen, the intimation about the commandment against idola

try, we have placed it in our catechism, p. 16.

But in such

a manner, as to serve for a fuller explanation of the first commandment in the Decalogue. Besides this, we incul. cate this precept against idolatry with all possible diligence, and render as contemptible as we can, the idolatry and polytheism of Pagans.

"As to what relates to party-names or distinctions, the Divine Wisdom, which is without partiality, has taught us to abhor them. Our scholars know not so much as the bare name of Luther or Calvin, but as for the name of Popery and Papist, it is every where known in India, by reason of the vast number of Papists who wander about in this country; being abandoned both to the grossest darkness and ignorance, and to the most scandalous vices and practices.

"When we ask our scholars, what religion they are of? They answer, we are Tschettiawedakarer; i. e. Christians bound to observe the truly divine law; the word law being taken in that comprehensive sense whereby it contains in it both the Law and the Gospel. After all, we assure you that we allow of no party-names to be used, either in the Malabarian or Portuguese pulpit; and we design to be equally cautious in the books we shall happen to print.*

"As it is no small grief unto us, that we are destitute in the Pagan world of such persons, as in hard and difficult cases might supply us with good and wholesome advice, so we shall the more gratefully accept those sound instructions you shall be pleased to impart to us, for the better discharge of our trust: the blessed effect whereof is like to be, that the church planted in India will, as it were, from the first shooting of the blade, become truly Christian; and by the Divine grace, be happily preserved from such spots and defilements as are apt to intrude into the best constitution.

"We congratulate you, most worthy gentlemen, on account of the translation of the New Testament into the Damulian tongue, designed for the use of the Heathen world. We have finished at last the impression of the four Evangelists, and of the Acts of the Apostles, and some copies are herewith sent to England: one whereof we present with

* "I should like to have had access to the letter of the Society to which this is a reply; because I infer, from the tenor of the reply, that it must have been a model of christian candor and charity. Some members of the Society might peruse it with profit."

filial respect, to the most reverend President of the Society, Dr. Thomas Tenison, Archbishop of Canterbury: another to the University of Cambridge; and the rest to yourselves, and other benefactors to the Mission.

"Last year we gave you an account of the number of the Christians in our Malabaric and Portuguese churches. God Almighty has added to them twenty-eight persons more, that have been catechised this year; though the opposition we have hitherto met with, has very much hindered the increase both of our churches and schools. The mighty hand of the Lord, we hope, will at length remove those obstacles, together with our grief which is caused thereby.

"Our thoughts concerning a Seminary for Missionaries, to be made up of students sent from Europe, and of Indians educated in our schools are every day growing to a greater maturity. We hope that such young men, after they have been duly prepared in the knowledge of langua ges, and fitted for the design, the churches of Christ planted in the East Indies may reap from thence a considerable benefit for their daily increase.

"After all, we do, with a filial reverence, recommend to your care whatever may serve to advance the propagation of the gospel of Christ in the eastern parts of the world; that by your help and support, your counsels and prayers, the hearts of the unbelievers, destitute of heavenly life and spirit, be made the temples of the Lord, and become holy and living sacrifices well pleasing to God!?"

"About this time a college was formed at Copenhagen, by the king of Denmark, for the purpose of facilitating and enlarging the work of the Mission in the East Indies. The members of it immediately communicated the circumstance to the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge. In the letter which they transmitted they observe 'We cannot for-get that it is the first part of our office to publish this Royal Institution to the world, and most heartily to invite all who have a hearty concern for the salvation of the Heathen to join with us in firomoting the same.' An abstract of the Instructions of the King of Denmark (Frederick IV.) to the Missionary College is contained in the publication before They are highly creditable to that pious prince, as the following extract will shew."

me.

"A considerable benefaction had been sent to the Missionaries> from Cambridge."

"Every member.is to think it his duty, after hearty prayers put up for that purpose, to lay to heart a work of so great a concern, and to employ what gifts Providence hath bestowed upon him for advancing so Christian a design, viz. That the Gospel of Christ be preached to the Gentiles, and thereby many souls be brought over to Jesus Christ; and particularly that the Mission designed by us for that purpose, be supported, furthered, and facilitated.

"You are to make it your particular care, to assist the Missionaries already employed in this work, viz. to afford them useful instructions, to correct in them what is amiss, to encourage them in the pursuit of the work, to contrive ways for their timely supply, that they may cheerfully prosecute so good a design, and readily attend the function they are engaged in.

"You ought seriously to consider of procuring more laborers to be sent on the same errand, after they have been sufficiently tried, and found duly qualified for that work, and fit to succeed the Missionaries, if need be, in so weighty a station.

"You ought to consider what methods may be taken with the Heathen, even after they have embraced the Christian religion, thereby to promote their spiritual and temporal interest, viz. How they and their children, (besides the knowledge of the principles of Christianity,) may be instructed in other useful arts and sciences, and how also they may be employed, according to their respective dispositions and capacities." "

"A few extracts from the Prospectus published by the College on its first formation, and dated Copenhagen Jan. 19, 1715, may not be unacceptable to your readers."

"It must be acknowledged by all, who are sensible of the difference between a state of sin and wrath, and a state of grace, to have been an inestimable blessing to these northern countries, when the Gospel of Christ was received by our forefathers about nine hundred years ago, and heathenism thereby in a great measure abolished, and expelled from these parts of the world.

"And it must be confessed, that this blessing was again renewed to us, under the happy reign of our pious King Frederick I. when Christianity, by means of Luther's Refor mation, recovered much of its ancient lustre and glory.

"Praised be God, who, of his infinite mercy, has vouchsafed unto us, to enjoy that benefit, for the space of near

two hundred years, which many others stand deprived of to this day.

"Praised be likewise the same most merciful God, who, of his abundant goodness hath reserved this farther glory to our nation, that the same grace which was received by us (and that not altogether in vain,) doth now again go forth from us, and spread itself in far distant countries, whereby Protestant Churches may at last see the possibility of that, which, by many was deemed altogether impracticable.

our

"It is now sufficiently known to the world, what pious care his Majesty of Denmark, Frederick the Fourth, most gracious king has taken ever since the year 1705, to have the Gospel of Christ preached to the Heathen in the East Indies, and a church gathered there to the Author of our most holy religion.

""Of what importance the institution of such a' Mission is, and how great advantage may be expected from it, will be best understood by those who have obtained grace to work out their own salvation, and are endued with an ardent desire of rescuing also their fellow-creatures from a state of darkness and ignorance.

"Nay, should this Mission be attended with no other effect than that the light of the Gospel, has by this means, been happily put on a candlestick, and shone for several years among the Heathens; yet hereby is there abundant cause administered to glorify God on that behalf.

"But any one that will seriously consider the signal and blessed success with which God hath vouchsafed to crown the fervent zeal, and unwearied application of our Missionaries, will be easily induced to believe, that He seems to be pleased with this work, as tending so much to his glory, and the salvation of souls.' 'The Missionaries have not only translated the whole New Testament into Malabaric, but are now engaged in the translation of the Old. It must be acknowledged to be a very great blessing to the Malabar Heathen, to have the Gospel laid before them in their native tongue, whereby they have an opportunity to learn and embrace the counsel of God, and the offers of his grace, for their eternal happiness.

""Any one who is engaged in the great work of converting others, and has thereby experimentally learnt how difficult a matter it is to gain souls to Christ, will easily believe it to be no small success, that God has so far blessed the Missionaries, as to enable them to gather a congregation,