the life of william carey-第29节
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that they may be able to teach others。 I think it becomes us to make the most of every one whom the Lord gives us。〃
Jeymooni； Krishna's wife's sister； was the first Bengali woman to be baptised； and Rasoo； his wife； soon followed； both were about thirty…five years old。 The former said she had found a treasure in Christ greater than anything in the world。 The latter； when she first heard the good news from her husband； said 〃there was no such sinner as I； and I felt my heart immediately unite to Him。 I wish to keep all His commands so far as I know them。〃 Gokool was kept back for a time by his wife； Komal； who fled to her father's； but Krishna and his family brought in； first the husband； then the wife； whose simplicity and frankness attracted the missionaries。 Unna； their widowed friend of forty； was also gathered in； the first of that sad host of victims to Brahmanical cruelty； lust； and avarice； to whom Christianity has ever since offered the only deliverance。 Of 124；000；000 of women in India in 1881； no fewer than 21；000；000 were returned by the census as widows； of whom 669；000 were under nineteen years； 286；000 were under fifteen； and 79；000 were under nine； all figures undoubtedly within the appalling truth。 Jeymooni and Unna at once became active missionaries among their country…women； not only in Serampore but in Chandernagore and the surrounding country。
The year 1800 did not close without fruit from the other and higher castes。 Petumber Singh； a man of fifty of the writer caste； had sought deliverance from sin for thirty years at many a Hindoo shrine and in many a Brahmanical scripture。 One of the earliest tracts of the Serampore press fell into his hands； and he at once walked forty miles to seek fuller instruction from its author。 His baptism gave Carey just what the mission wanted； a good schoolmaster； and he soon proved to be； even before Krishna in time； the first preacher to the people。 Of the same writer caste were Syam Dass； Petumber Mitter； and his wife Draupadi； who was as brave as her young husband。 The despised soodras were represented by Syam's neighbour； Bharut； an old man； who said he went to Christ because he was just falling into hell and saw no other way of safety。 The first Mohammedan convert was Peroo； another neighbour of Syam Dass。 From the spot on the Soondarbans where Carey first began his life of missionary farmer； there came to him at the close of 1802； in Calcutta； the first Brahman who had bowed his neck to the Gospel in all India up to this time； for we can hardly reckon Kiernander's case。 Krishna Prosad； then nineteen； 〃gave up his friends and his caste with much fortitude； and is the first Brahman who has been baptised。 The word of Christ's death seems to have gone to his heart； and he continues to receive the Word with meekness。〃 The poita or sevenfold thread which； as worn over the naked body； betokened his caste； he trampled under foot； and another was given to him； that when preaching Christ he might be a witness to the Brahmans at once that Christ is irresistible and that an idol is nothing in the world。 This he voluntarily ceased to wear in a few years。 Two more Brahmans were brought in by Petumber Singhee in 1804； by the close of which year the number of baptised converts was forty…eight； of whom forty were native men and women。 With the instinct of a true scholar and Christian Carey kept to the apostolic practice； which has been too often departed fromhe consecrated the convert's name as well as soul and body to Christ。 Beside the 〃Hermes〃 of Rome to whom Paul sent his salutation； he kept the 〃Krishna〃 of Serampore and Calcutta。
The first act of the first convert； Krishna Pal； was of his own accord to build a house for God immediately opposite his own； the first native meeting…house in Bengal。 Carey preached the first sermon in it to twenty natives besides the family。 On the side of the high road； along which the car of Jagganath is dragged every year； the missionaries purchased a site and built a preaching place； a school； a house for Gokool； and a room for the old widow； at the cost of Captain Wickes； who had rejoiced to witness their baptism。 The Brahman who owned the neighbouring land wished to sell it and leave the place； 〃so much do these people abhor us。〃 This little purchase for ？ grew in time into the extensive settlement of Jannagur； where about 1870 the last of Carey's converts passed away。 》From its native chapel； and in its village tank； many Hindoos have since been led by their own ordained countrymen to put on Christ。 In time the church in the chapel on the Hoogli became chiefly European and Eurasian； but on the first Sunday of the year； the members of both churches meet together for solemn and joyful communion； when the services are alternately in Bengali and English。
The longing for converts now gave place to anxiety that they might continue to be Christians indeed。 As in the early Corinthian Church； all did not perceive at once the solemnities of the Lord's Supper。 Krishna Pal； for instance； jealous because the better educated Petumber had been ordained to preach before him； made a schism by administering it； and so filled the missionaries with grief and fear； but he soon became penitent。 Associated with men who gave their all to Christ； the native members could not but learn the lesson of self…support； so essential for a self…propagating church； and so often neglected in the early history of missions； and even still。 On baptism Krishna received a new white dress with six shillings； but such a gift； beautiful in itself； was soon discontinued。 A Mohammedan convert asked assistance to cultivate a little ground and rear silkworms； but； writes Mr。 Ward bowed down with missionary cares； 〃We are desirous to avoid such a precedent。〃 Although these first converts were necessarily missionaries rather than pastors for a time； each preacher received no more than six rupees a month while in his own village； and double that when itinerating。 Carey and his colleagues were ever on the watch to foster the spiritual life and growth of men and women born； and for thirty or fifty years trained； in all the ideas and practices of a system which is the very centre of opposition to teaching like theirs。 This record of an 〃experience meeting〃 of three men and five women may be taken as a type of Bengali Christianity when it was but two years old； and as a contrast to that which prevails a century after：
〃Gokool。 I have been the greatest of sinners； but I wish only to think of the death of Christ。 I rejoice that now people can no longer despise the Gospel； and call us feringas； but they begin to judge for themselves。
〃Krishna Prosad。 I have this week been thinking of the power of God； that he can do all things； and of the necessity of minding all his commands。 I have thought also of my mother a great deal； who is now become old； and who is constantly crying about me； thinking that I have dishonoured the family and am lost。 Oh that I could but once go and tell her of the good news； as well as my brothers and sisters； and open their eyes to the way of salvation！
〃Ram Roteen。 In my mind there is this： I see that all the debtahs （idols） are nothing； and that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour。 If I can believe in him； and walk in his commandments； it may be well with me。
〃Rasoo。 I am a great sinner； yet I wish continually to think of the death of Christ。 I had much comfort in the marriage of my daughter （Onunda to Krishna Prosad）。 The neighbours talked much about it； and seemed to think that it was much better that a man should choose his own wife； than that people should be betrothed in their infancy by their parents。 People begin to be able to judge a little now about the Christian ways。
〃Jeymooni。 In this country are many ways： the way of the debtahs； the way of Jagganath； where all eat together； the way of Ghospara； etc。 Yet all these are vain。 Yesoo Kreest's death； and Yesoo Kreest's commandsthis is the way of life！ I long to see Kreest's kingdom grow。 This week I had much joy in talking to Gokool's mother； whose heart is inclined to judge about the way of Kreest。 When I was called to go and talk with her； on the way I thought within myself； but how can I explain the way of Kreest？ I am but a woman； and do not know much。 Yet I recollected that the blessing does not come from us： God can bless the weakest words。 Many Bengali women coming from the adjoining houses； sat down and heard the word； and I was glad in hoping that the mercy of God might be found by this old woman。 ＇Gokool's mother。＇
〃Komal。 I am a great sinner； yet I have been much rejoiced this week in Gokool's mother coming to inquire about the Gospel。 I had great sorrow when Gokool was ill； and at one time I thought he would have died； but God has graciously restored him。 We have worldly sorrow； but this lasts only for a time。
〃Draupadi。 This week I have had much sorrow on account of Petumber。 His mind is very bad： he sits in the house； and refuses to work； and I know not what will become of him： yet Kreest's death is a true word。
〃Golook。 I have had much joy in thinking of God's goodness to our family。 My sisters Onunda and Kesaree wish to be baptised； an
