the life of william carey-第36节
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what is sacred； and consecrated to Christ and his cause。 In building； especially； remember that you are poor men； and have chosen a life of poverty and self…denial； with Christ and his missionary servants。 If another person is profuse in expenditure； the consequence is small； because his property would perhaps fall into hands where it might be devoted to the purposes of iniquity； but missionary funds are in their very circumstances the most sacred and important of any thing of this nature on earth。 We say not this； Brethren； because we suspect you； or any of our partners in labour； but we perceive that when you have done all； the Rangoon mission will lie heavy upon the Missionary Funds； and the field of exertion is very wide。〃
Felix Carey was a medical missionary of great skill； a printer of the Oriental languages trained by Ward； and a scholar； especially in Sanskrit and Pali； Bengali and Burman； not unworthy of his father。 He early commended himself to the goodwill of the Rangoon Viceroy； and was of great use to Captain Canning in the successful mission from the Governor…General in 1809。 At his intercession the Viceroy gave him the life of a malefactor who had hung for six hours on the cross。 Reporting the incident to Ryland； Dr。 Carey wrote that 〃crucifixion is not performed on separate crosses； elevated to a considerable height； after the manner of the Romans； but several posts are erected which are connected by a cross piece near the top； to which the hands are nailed； and by another near the bottom； to which the feet are nailed in a horizontal direction。〃 He prepared a folio dictionary of Burmese and Pali； translated several of the Buddhist Sootras into English； and several books of Holy Scripture into the vernacular。 His medical and linguistic skill so commended him to the king that he was loaded with honours and sent as Burmese ambassador to the Governor…General in 1814； when he withdrew from the Christian mission。 On his way back up the Irawadi he alone was saved from the wreck of his boat； in which his second wife and children and the MS。 of his dictionary went down。 Of this his eldest son； who 〃procured His Majesty's sanction for printing the Scriptures in the Burman and adjacent languages； which step he highly approved；〃 and at the same time 〃the orders of my rank； which consist of a red umbrella with an ivory top； gold betel box； gold lefeek cup； and a sword of state；〃 the father wrote lamenting to Ryland：〃Felix is shrivelled from a missionary into an ambassador。〃 To his third son the sorrowing father said：〃The honours he has received from the Burmese Government have not been beneficial to his soul。 Felix is certainly not so much esteemed since his visit as he was before it。 It is a very distressing thing to be forced to apologise for those you love。〃 Mr。 Chater had removed to Ceylon to begin a mission in Colombo。
In July 1813； when Felix Carey was in Ava； two young Americans； Adoniram Judson and his wife Ann； tempest…tossed and fleeing before the persecution of the East India Company； found shelter in the Mission House at Rangoon。 Judson was one of a band of divinity students of the Congregational Church of New England； whose zeal had almost compelled the institution of the American Board of Foreign Missions。 He； his wife； and colleague Rice had become Baptists by conviction on their way to Serampore； to the brotherhood of which they had been commended。 Carey and his colleagues made it 〃a point to guard against obtruding on missionary brethren of different sentiments any conversation relative to baptism；〃 but Judson himself sent a note to Carey requesting baptism by immersion。 The result was the foundation at Boston of the American Baptist Missionary Society； which was to win such triumphs in Burma and among the Karens。 For a time； however； Judson was a missionary from Serampore； and supported by the brotherhood。 As such he wrote thus：
〃RANGOON； Sept。 1； 1814。Brother Ward wishes to have an idea of the probable expense of each station； on which I take occasion to say that it would be more gratifying to me； as presenting a less temptation； and as less dangerous to my habits of economy and my spiritual welfare； to have a limited monthly allowance。 I fear that； if I am allowed as much as I want； my wants will enlarge with their gratification； and finally embrace many things； which at first I should have thought incompatible with economical management； as well as with that character among the heathen which it becomes the professed followers of Him who for our sakes became poor； even to sustain。 It is better for a missionary； especially a young man； to have rather too little than rather too much。 Your case； on coming out from England； was quite different from mine。 You had all that there was； and were obliged to make the most of it。
〃If these things meet the ideas of the brethren； I will be obliged to them to say； what sum； in Sicca Rupees； payable in Bengal； they think sufficient for a small family in Rangoonsufficient to meet all common expenses； and indeed all that will be incurred at present； except that of passages by sea。 You have all the accounts before you； especially of things purchased in Bengal； which I have not； and from having seen the mission pass through various changes； will be more competent to make an estimate of expense than I am。 And while you are making this estimate for one family； say also what will be sufficient for two small families； so that if Brother Rice； or any other should soon join me； it may not be necessary to bring the subject again under consideration。 This sum I will receive under the same regulations as other stations are subject to； and which I heartily approve。 And if； on experiment； it be found much too large； I shall be as glad to diminish it； as to have you increase it； if it be found much too small。
〃Sept。 7。Since writing the above； we have received the distressing intelligence； that a few days after Mr。 Carey left us； and soon after he had reached the brig （which had previously gone into the great river） on the 31st of August； about noon； she was overtaken by a squall of wind； upset； and instantly sunk。 Those who could swim； escaped with their lives merely； and those who could not； perished。 Among the saved； were Mr。 Carey and most of the Bengalees。 Mrs。 Carey； the two children； her women and girls； and several menin all； ten persons； perished。 Every article of property had been transferred from the boats to the vessel； and she had just left the place； where she had been long waiting the arrival of Mr。 Carey； and had been under sail about three hours。 Several boats were not far distant； the gold…boat was within sight； but so instantaneous was the disaster； that not a single thing was saved。 Some attempts were made by the lascars to save Mrs。 Carey and William； but they were unsuccessful。 Mr。 Carey staid on the shore through the following night； a neighbouring governor sent him clothes and money； and the next morning he took the gold…boat； and proceeded up the river。 A large boat； on which were several servants； men and women； beside those that were in the vessel； followed the gold…boat。 The jolly boat has returned here； bringing the surviving lascars。
〃The dreadful situation to which our poor brother was thus reduced in a moment； from the height of prosperity； fills our minds continually with the greatest distress。 We are utterly unable to afford him the least relief； and can only pray that this awful dispensation may prove a paternal chastisement from his Heavenly Father； and be sanctified to his soul。〃
While Judson wrote to Serampore； which he once again visited； leaving the dust of a child in the mission burial…ground； 〃I am glad to hear you say that you will not abandon this mission；〃 Carey pressed on to the 〃regions beyond。〃 Judson lived till 1850 to found a church and to prepare a Burmese dictionary； grammar； and translation of the Bible so perfect that revision has hardly been necessary up to the present day。 He and Hough； a printer who joined him； formed themselves into a brotherhood on the same self…denying principles as that of Serampore； whom they besought to send them frequent communications to counsel； strengthen； and encourage them。 On 28th September 1814 Judson again wrote to Carey from Rangoon：
〃DEAR BROTHER CAREYIf copies of Colebrooke's Sungskrita Dictionary； and your Sungskrita Grammar are not too scarce； I earnestly request a copy of each。 I find it will be absolutely necessary for me to pick up a little of the Pali； chiefly on account of many theological terms； which have been incorporated from that language into the Burman。 I have found a dictionary； which I suppose is the same as that which Mr。 Colebrooke translated； adapted to the Burman system。 This I intend to read。 I want also Leyden's Vocabulary； and a copy or two of your son's grammar； when it is completed。 I gave your son on his going up to Ava； my copy of Campbell's Gospels； together with several other books； all of which are now lost。 The former I chiefly regret； and know not whence I can procure another copy。
〃There is a vessel now lying here； which is destined to take round an Ambassador from this Government to Bengal。 He expects to g
