the life of william carey-第32章
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n a street； some one desires us to remove to a little distance； for the women dare not come by us to fill their jars at the river。 We always obey。。。
〃Dec。 11。Gokool； Krishna； and family continue to seek after the Word； and profess their entire willingness to join us。 The women seem to have learnt that sin is a dreadful thing； and to have received joy in hearing of Jesus Christ。 We see them all every day almost。 They live but half a mile from us。 We think it right to make many allowances for ignorance； and for a state of mind produced by a corrupt superstition。 We therefore cannot think of demanding from them； previous to baptism； to more than a profession of dependence on Christ； from a knowledge of their need of Him； and submission to Him in all things。 We now begin to talk of baptism。 Yesterday we fixed upon the spot； before our gate； in the river。 We begin to talk also of many other things concerning the discipled natives。 This evening Felix and I went to Gokool's house。 Krishna and his wife and a br鄊mh鄋 were present。 I said a little。 Felix read the four last chapters of John to them； and spoke also。 We sat down upon a piece of mat in the front of the house。 （No chairs。） It was very pleasant。 To have natives who feel a little as we do ourselves； is so new and different。 The country itself seems to wear a new aspect to me。。。
〃Dec。 13。This evening Felix and I went to see our friends Gokool and Krishna。 The latter was out。 Gokool gave a pleasing account of the state of his mind； and also of that of Krishna and his family。 While we were there； Gokool's gooroo （teacher） came for the first time since his losing caste。 Gokool refused to prostrate himself at his feet while he should put his foot on his head； for which his gooroo was displeased。。。
〃Dec。 22。This day Gokool and Krishna came to eat tiffin （what in England is called luncheon） with us； and thus publicly threw away their caste。 Brethren Carey and Thomas went to prayer with the two natives before they proceeded to this act。 All our servants were astonished： so many had said that nobody would ever mind Christ or lose caste。 Brother Thomas has waited fifteen years； and thrown away much upon deceitful characters： brother Carey has waited till hope of his own success has almost expired； and after all； God has done it with perfect ease！ Thus the door of faith is open to the gentiles； who shall shut it？ The chain of the caste is broken； who shall mend it？〃
Carey thus describes the baptism：〃Dec。 29。Yesterday was a day of great joy。 I had the happiness to desecrate the Gunga； by baptising the first Hindoo； viz。 Krishna； and my son Felix： some circumstances turned up to delay the baptism of Gokool and the two women。 Krishna's coming forward alone； however； gave us very great pleasure； and his joy at both ordinances was very great。 The river runs just before our gate； in front of the house； and； I think； is as wide as the Thames at Gravesend。 We intended to have baptised at nine in the morning； but； on account of the tide； were obliged to defer it till nearly one o'clock； and it was administered just after the English preaching。 The Governor and a good number of Europeans were present。 Brother Ward preached a sermon in English； from John v。 39'Search the Scriptures。' We then went to the water…side； where I addressed the people in Bengali； after having sung a Bengali translation of 'Jesus； and shall it ever be？' and engaging in prayer。 After the address I administered the ordinance； first to my son； then to Krishna。 At half…past four I administered the Lord's Supper； and a time of real refreshing it was。。。
〃Thus； you see； God is making way for us； and giving success to the word of His grace！ We have toiled long； and have met with many discouragements； but； at last； the Lord has appeared for us。 May we have the true spirit of nurses； to train them up in the words of faith and sound doctrine！ I have no fear of any one； however； in this respect； but myself。 I feel much concerned that they may act worthy of their vocation； and also 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 ba
