the life of william carey-第24节
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s recently re…discoveredas it wereand now forms an important mode of evangelistic work when accompanied by native musical instruments。 The original has a curious interest and value in the history of the Bengali language； as formed by Carey。 As to the music he wrote：〃We sometimes have a melody that cheers my heart； though it would be discordant upon the ears of an Englishman。〃
Such was the immediate action of the infant Baptist Society。 The moment Dr。 Ryland read his letter from Carey he sent for Dr。 Bogue and Mr。 Stephen； who happened to be in Bristol； to rejoice with him。 The three returned thanks to God； and then Bogue and Stephen； calling on Mr。 Hey； a leading minister； took the first step towards the foundation of a similar organisation of non…Baptists； since known as the London Missionary Society。 Immediately Bogue； the able Presbyterian； who had presided over a theological school at Gosport from which missionaries went forth； and who refused the best living in Edinburgh when offered to him by Dundas； wrote his address； which appeared in the Evangelical Magazine for September； calling on the churches to send out at least twenty or thirty missionaries。 In the sermon of lofty eloquence which he preached the year after； he declared that the missionary movement of that time would form an epoch in the history of man；〃the time will be ever remembered by us； and may it be celebrated by future ages as the 苧a of Christian Benevolence。〃
On the same day the Rev。 T。 Haweis； rector of All Saints； Aldwinkle； referring to the hundreds of ministers collected to decide where the first mission should be sent； thus burst forth： 〃Methinks I see the great Angel of the Covenant in the midst of us； pluming his wings； and ready to fly through the midst of heaven with his own everlasting Gospel； to every nation and tribe and tongue and people。〃 In Hindostan 〃our brethren the Baptists have at present prevented our wishes。。。there is room for a thousand missionaries； and I wish we may be ready with a numerous host for that or any other part of the earth。〃
〃Scotland10 was the next to take up the challenge sent by Carey。 Greville Ewing； then a young minister of the kirk in Edinburgh； published in March 1796 the appeal of the Edinburgh or Scottish Missionary Society； which afterwards sent John Wilson to Bombay； and that was followed by the Glasgow Society； to which we owe the most successful of the Kafir missions in South Africa。 Robert Haldane sold all that he had when he read the first number of the Periodical Accounts； and gave ？5；000 to send a Presbyterian mission of six ministers and laymen； besides himself； to do from Benares what Carey had planned from Mudnabati； but Pitt as well as Dundas； though his personal friends； threatened him with the Company's intolerant Act of Parliament。 Evangelical ministers of the Church of England took their proper place in the new crusade； and a year before the eighteenth century closed they formed the agency； which has ever since been in the forefront of the host of the Lord as the Church Missionary Society； with Carey's friend； Thomas Scott； as its first secretary。 The sacred enthusiasm was caught by the Netherlands on the one side under the influence of Dr。 Van der Kemp； who had studied at Edinburgh University； and by the divinity students of New England； of whom Adoniram Judson was even then in training to receive from Carey the apostolate of Burma。 Soon too the Bengali Bible translations were to unite with the needs of the Welsh at home to establish the British and Foreign Bible Society。
As news of all this reached Carey amid his troubles and yet triumphs of faith in the swamps of Dinajpoor； and when he learned that he was soon to be joined by four colleagues； one of whom was Ward whom he himself had trysted to print the Bengali Bible for him； he might well write； in July 1799：〃The success of the Gospel and； among other things； the hitherto unextinguishable missionary flame in England and all the western world； give us no little encouragement and animate our hearts。〃 To Sutcliff he had written eighteen months before that：〃I rejoice much at the missionary spirit which has lately gone forth： surely it is a prelude to the universal spread of the Gospel！ Your account of the German Moravian Brethren's affectionate regard towards me is very pleasing。 I am not much moved by what men in general say of me； yet I cannot be insensible to the regards of men eminent for godliness。。。Staying at home is now become sinful in many cases； and will become so more and more。 All gifts should be encouraged； and spread abroad。〃
The day was breaking now。 Men as well as money were offered for Carey's work。 In Scotland especially Fuller found that he had but to ask； but to appear in any evangelical pulpit； and he would receive sums which； in that day of small things； rebuked his little faith。 Till the last Scotland was loyal to Carey and his colleagues； and with almost a prevision of this he wrote so early as 1797：〃It rejoices my heart much to hear of our brethren in Scotland having so liberally set themselves to encourage the mission。〃 They approved of his plans； and prayed for him and his work。 When Fuller called on Cecil for help； the 〃churchy〃 evangelical told him he had a poor opinion of all Baptists except one； the man who wrote The Gospel Worthy of All Acceptation。 When he learned that its author was before him； the hasty offender apologised and offered a subscription。 〃Not a farthing； sir！〃 was the reply； 〃you do not give in faith；〃 but the persistent Cecil prevailed。 Men； however； were a greater want than money at that early stage of the modern crusade。 Thomas and Fountain had each been a mistake。 So were the early African missionaries； with the exception of the first Scotsman； Peter Greig。 Of the thirty sent out by the London Missionary Society in the Duff only four were fit for ordination； and not one has left a name of mark。 The Church Mission continued to send out only Germans till 1815。 In quick succession four young men offered themselves to the Baptist Society to go out as assistants to Carey； in the hope that the Company would give them a covenant to resideBrunsdon and Grant； two of Ryland's Bristol flock； Joshua Marshman with his wife Hannah Marshman； and William Ward called by Carey himself。
In nine months Fuller had them and their families shipped in an American vessel； the Criterion； commanded by Captain Wickes； a Presbyterian elder of Philadelphia； who ever after promoted the cause in the United States。 Charles Grant helped them as he would have aided Carey alone。 Though the most influential of the Company's directors； he could not obtain a passport for them； but he gave them the very counsel which was to provide for the young mission its ark of defence： 〃Do not land at Calcutta but at Serampore； and there； under the protection of the Danish flag； arrange to join Mr。 Carey。〃 After five months' prosperous voyage the party reached the Hoogli。 Before arriving within the limits of the port of Calcutta Captain Wickes sent them off in two boats under the guidance of a Bengali clerk to Serampore； fifteen miles higher up on the right bank of the river。 They had agreed that he should boldly enter them； not as assistant planters； but as Christian missionaries； rightly trusting to Danish protection。 Charles Grant had advised them well； but it is not easy now； as in the case of their predecessors in 1795 and of their successors up to 1813； to refrain from indignation that the British Parliament； and the party led by William Pitt； should have so long lent all the weight of their power to the East India Company in the vain attempt to keep Christianity from the Hindoos。 Ward's journal thus simply tells the story of the landing of the missionaries at this Iona； this Canterbury of Southern Asia：
〃Lord's…day； Oct。 13； 1799。Brother Brunsdon and I slept in the open air on our chests。 We arrived at Serampore this morning by daylight； in health and pretty good spirits。 We put up at Myerr's； a Danish tavern to which we had been recommended。 No worship to…day。 Nothing but a Portuguese church here。
〃Oct。 14。Mr。 Forsyth from Calcutta； missionary belonging to the London Missionary Society； astonished us by his presence this afternoon。 He was wholly unknown； but soon became well known。 He gave us a deal of interesting information。 He had seen brother Carey； who invited him to his house； offered him the assistance of his Moonshi； etc。
〃Oct。 16The Captain having been at Calcutta came and informed us that his ship could not be entered unless we made our appearance。 Brother Brunsdon and I went to Calcutta； and the next day we were informed that the ship had obtained an entrance； on condition that we appeared at the Police Office； or would continue at Serampore。 All things considered we preferred the latter； till the arrival of our friends from Kidderpore to whom we had addressed letters。 Captain Wickes called on Rev。 Mr。 Brown； who very kindly offered to do anything for us in his power。 Our Instructions with respect to our conduct towards Civil Government were read to him。 He promised to call at the Police Office afterwards； and to inform the Master that we intended to stay at Serampore； t
