the life of william carey-第40章
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y as well as by the Chinese themselves。 About twenty chapters of Matthew are translated into that language； and three of our family have made considerable progress in it。〃
This was the beginning of Reformed missions to Eastern Asia。 A year was to pass before Dr。 Robert Morrison landed at Macao。 From those politically aggressive and therefore opposed Jesuit missions； which alone had worked in Anam up to this time； a persecuted bishop was about to find an asylum at Serampore； and to use its press and its purse for the publication of his Dictionarium Anamitico…Latinum。 The French have long sought to seize an empire there。 That； at its best； must prove far inferior to the marvellous province and Christian Church of Burma； of which Carey laid the foundation。 Judson； and the Governors Durand； Phayre； Aitchison； and Bernard； Henry Lawrence's nephew； built well upon it。
On 24th January 1807 Mardon and Chater went forth； after Carey had charged them from the words； 〃And thence sailed to Antioch from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God； which they fulfilled。〃 Carey's eldest son Felix soon took the place of Mardon。 The instructions； which bear the impress of the sacred scholar's pen； form a model still for all missionaries。 These two extracts give counsels never more needed than now：
〃4。 With respect to the Burman language； let this occupy your most precious time and your most anxious solicitude。 Do not be content with acquiring this language superficially； but make it your own； root and branch。 To become fluent in it； you must attentivly listen； with prying curiosity； into the forms of speech； the construction and accent of the natives。 Here all the imitative powers are wanted； yet these powers and this attention； without continued effort to use all you acquire； and as fast as you acquire it； will be comparatively of little use。
〃5。 As soon as you shall feel your ground well in this language you may compose a grammar； and also send us some Scripture tract； for printing； small and plain； simple Christian instruction； and Gospel invitation； without any thing that can irritate the most superstitious mind。
〃6。 We would recommend you to begin the translation of the Gospel of Mark as soon as possible； as one of the best and most certain ways of acquiring the language。 This translation will of course be revised again and again。 In these revisions you will be very careful respecting the idiom and construction； that they be really Burman； and not English。 Let your instructor be well acquainted with the language； and try every word of importance； in every way you can； before it be admitted。。。
〃In prosecuting this work； there are two things to which especially we would call your very close attention； viz。 the strictest and most rigid economy； and the cultivation of brotherly love。
〃Remember； that the money which you will expend is neither ours nor yours； for it has been consecrated to God； and every unnecessary expenditure will be robbing God； and appropriating to unnecessary secular uses 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 t
