the life of william carey-第15章
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ting me at all。 Farewell。〃
She was woman and wife enough； in the end； to do as Mrs。 Thomas had done； but she stipulated that her sister should accompany her。
By a series of specially providential events； as it seemed； such as marked the whole early history of this first missionary enterprise of modern England； Carey and Thomas secured a passage on board the Danish Indiaman Kron Princessa Maria； bound from Copenhagen to Serampore。 At Dover； where they had been waiting for days； the eight were roused from sleep by the news that the ship was off the harbour。 Sunrise on the 13th June saw them on board。 Carey had had other troubles besides his colleague and his wife。 His father； then fifty…eight years old； had not given him up without a struggle。 〃Is William mad？〃 he had said when he received the letter in which his son thus offered himself up on the missionary altar。 His mother had died six years before：
〃LEICESTER； Jan。 17th； 1793。
〃DEAR AND HONOURED FATHER；The importance of spending our time for God alone； is the principal theme of the gospel。 I beseech you； brethren； says Paul； by the mercies of God； that you present your bodies a living sacrifice； holy and acceptable； which is your reasonable service。 To be devoted like a sacrifice to holy uses； is the great business of a christian； pursuant to these requisitions。 I consider myself as devoted to the service of God alone； and now I am to realise my professions。 I am appointed to go to Bengal； in the East Indies； a missionary to the Hindoos。 I shall have a colleague who has been there five or six years already； and who understands their language。 They are the most mild and inoffensive people in all the world； but are enveloped in the greatest superstition； and in the grossest ignorance。。。I hope； dear father； you may be enabled to surrender me up to the Lord for the most arduous； honourable； and important work that ever any of the sons of men were called to engage in。 I have many sacrifices to make。 I must part with a beloved family； and a number of most affectionate friends。 Never did I see such sorrow manifested as reigned through our place of worship last Lord's…day。 But I have set my hand to the plough。I remain； your dutiful son；
〃WILLIAM CAREY。〃
When in London Carey had asked John Newton； 〃What if the Company should send us home on our arrival in Bengal？〃 〃Then conclude；〃 was the reply； 〃that your Lord has nothing there for you to accomplish。 But if He have； no power on earth can hinder you。〃 By Act of Parliament not ten years old； every subject of the King going to or found in the East Indies without a licence from the Company； was guilty of a high crime and misdemeanour； and liable to fine and imprisonment。 Only four years previously a regulation had compelled every commander to deliver to the Hoogli pilot a return of the passengers on board that the Act might be enforced。 The Danish nationality of the ship and crew saved the missionary party。 So grievously do unjust laws demoralise contemporary opinion； that Fuller was constrained to meet the objections of many to the 〃illegality〃 of the missionaries' action by reasoning； unanswerable indeed； but not now required： 〃The apostles and primitive ministers were commanded to go into all the world； and preach the gospel to every creature； nor were they to stop for the permission of any power upon earth； but to go； and take the consequences。 If a man of God； conscious of having nothing in his heart unfriendly to any civil government whatever； but determined in all civil matters to obey and teach obedience to the powers that are； put his life in his hand； saying； I will go； and if I am persecuted in one city I will flee to another'。。。whatever the wisdom of this world may decide upon his conduct； he will assuredly be acquitted； and more than acquitted； at a higher tribunal。〃
Carey's journal of the voyage begins with an allusion to 〃the abominable East Indian monopoly；〃 which he was to do more than any other man to break down by weapons not of man's warfare。 The second week found him at Bengali； and for his companion the poems of Cowper。 Of the four fellow…passengers one was a French deist； with whom he had many a debate。
〃Aug。 2。I feel myself to be much declined； upon the whole； in the more spiritual exercises of religion； yet have had some pleasant exercises of soul； and feel my heart set upon the great work upon which I am going。 Sometimes I am quite dejected when I see the impenetrability of the hearts of those with us。 They hear us preach on the Lord's…day； but we are forced to witness their disregard to God all the week。 O may God give us greater success among the heathen。 I am very desirous that my children may pursue the same work； and now intend to bring up one in the study of Sanskrit； and another of Persian。 O may God give them grace to fit them for the work！ I have been much concerned for fear the power of the Company should oppose us。。。
〃Aug。 20。I have reason to lament over a barrenness of soul； and am sometimes much discouraged； for if I am so dead and stupid； how can I expect to be of any use among the heathen？ Yet I have of late felt some very lively desires after the success of our undertaking。 If there is anything that engages my heart in prayer to God； it is that the heathen may be converted； and that the society which has so generously exerted itself may be encouraged； and excited to go on with greater vigour in the important undertaking。。。
〃Nov。 9。I think that I have had more liberty in prayer； and more converse with God； than for some time before； but have； notwithstanding； been a very unfruitful creature； and so remain。 For near a month we have been within two hundred miles of Bengal； but the violence of the currents set us back when we have been at the very door。 I hope I have learned the necessity of bearing up in the things of God against wind and tide； when there is occasion； as we have done in our voyage。〃
To the Society he writes for a Polyglot Bible； the Gospels in Malay； Curtis's Botanical Magazine； and Sowerby's English Botany； at his own cost； and thus plans the conquest of the world：〃I hope the Society will go on and increase； and that the multitudes of heathen in the world may hear the glorious words of truth。 Africa is but a little way from England； Madagascar but a little way farther； South America； and all the numerous and large islands in the Indian and Chinese seas； I hope will not be passed over。 A large field opens on every side； and millions of perishing heathens； tormented in this life by idolatry； superstition； and ignorance； and exposed to eternal miseries in the world to come； are pleading； yea； all their miseries plead as soon as they are known； with every heart that loves God； and with all the churches of the living God。 Oh； that many labourers may be thrust out into the vineyard of our Lord Jesus Christ； and that the gentiles may come to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Him！〃
On the 7th November； as the ship lay in the roads of Balasore； he and Thomas landed and 〃began our labours。〃 For three hours the people of the bazaar listened with great attention to Thomas； and one prepared for them a native dinner with plantain leaf for dish； and fingers for knives and forks。 Balasorename of Krishnawas one of the first settlements of the English in North India in 1642； and there the American Baptist successors of Carey have since carried on his work。 On the 11th November； after a five months' voyage； they landed at Calcutta unmolested。 The first fortnight's experience of the city； whose native population he estimated at 200；000； and of the surrounding country； he thus condenses：〃I feel something of what Paul felt when he beheld Athens； and 'his spirit was stirred within him。' I see one of the finest countries in the world； full of industrious inhabitants； yet three…fifths of it are an uncultivated jungle； abandoned to wild beasts and serpents。 If the gospel flourishes here； 'the wilderness will in every respect become a fruitful field。'〃
Clive； Hastings （Macpherson during an interregnum of twenty…two months）； and Cornwallis； were the men who had founded and administered the empire of British India up to this time。 Care
