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rom them。 He hoped they would be the sooner able to send another mission somewhereto Sumatra or some of the Indian Islands。 From the first he lived with such simplicity that he gave from one…fourth to one…third of his little income to his own mission at Mudnabati。
Carey thus sums up his first year's experience before leaving his jungle home on a three weeks' voyage up the Ganges; and records his first deliberate and regular attempt to preach in Bengali on the way。
〃8th April 1794。All my hope is in; and all my comfort arises from; God; without His power no European could possibly be converted; and His power can convert any Indian; and when I reflect that He has stirred me up to the work; and wrought wonders to prepare the way; I can hope in His promises; and am encouraged and strengthened。。。
〃19th April。O how glorious are the ways of God! 'My soul longeth and fainteth for God; for the living God; to see His glory and beauty as I have seen them in the sanctuary。' When I first left England; my hope of the conversion of the heathen was very strong; but; among so many obstacles; it would entirely die away unless upheld by God。 Nothing to exercise it; but plenty to obstruct it; for now a year and nineteen days; which is the space since I left my dear charge at Leicester。 Since that I have had hurrying up and down; a five months' imprisonment with carnal men on board the ship; five more learning the language; my moonshi not understanding English sufficiently to interpret my preaching; my colleague separated from me; long delays and few opportunities for social worship; no woods to retire to; like Brainerd; for fear of tigers (no less than twenty men in the department of Deharta; where I am; have been carried away by them this season from the salt…works); no earthly thing to depend upon; or earthly comfort; except food and raiment。 Well; I have God; and His Word is sure; and though the superstitions of the heathen were a million times worse than they are; if I were deserted by all; and persecuted by all; yet my hope; fixed on that sure Word; will rise superior to all obstructions; and triumph over all trials。 God's cause will triumph; and I shall come out of all trials as gold purified by fire。 I was much humbled to…day by reading Brainerd。 O what a disparity betwixt me and him; he always constant; I as inconstant as the wind!
〃22nd April。Bless God for a continuance of the happy frame of yesterday。 I think the hope of soon acquiring the language puts fresh life into my soul; for a long time my mouth has been shut; and my days have been beclouded with heaviness; but now I begin to be something like a traveller who has been almost beaten out in a violent storm; and who; with all his clothes about him dripping wet; sees the sky begin to clear: so I; with only the prospect of a more pleasant season at hand; scarcely feel the sorrows of the present。
〃23rd。With all the cares of life; and all its sorrows; yet I find that a life of communion with God is sufficient to yield consolation in the midst of all; and even to produce a holy joy in the soul; which shall make it to triumph over all affliction。 I have never yet repented of any sacrifice that I have made for the Gospel; but find that consolation of mind which can come from God alone。
〃26th May。This day kept Sabbath at Chandureea; had a pleasant day。 In the morning and afternoon addressed my family; and in the evening began my work of publishing the Word of God to the heathen。 Though imperfect in the knowledge of the language; yet; with the help of moonshi; I conversed with two Brahmans in the presence of about two hundred people; about the things of God。 I had been to see a temple; in which were the images of Dukkinroy; the god of the woods; riding on a tiger; Sheetulla; goddess of the smallpox; without a head; riding on a horse without a head; Punchanon; with large ears; and Colloroy; riding on a horse。 In another apartment was Seeb; which was only a smooth post of wood; with two or three mouldings in it; like the base of a Tuscan pillar。 I therefore discoursed with them upon the vanity of idols; the folly and wickedness of idolatry; the nature and attributes of God; and the way of salvation by Christ。 One Brahman was quite confounded; and a number of people were all at once crying out to him; 'Why do you not answer him? Why do you not answer him?' He replied; 'I have no words。' Just at this time a very learned Brahman came up; who was desired to talk with me; which he did; and so acceded to what I said; that he at last said images had been used of late years; but not from the beginning。 I inquired what I must do to be saved; he said I must repeat the name of God a great many times。 I replied; would you; if your son had offended you; be so pleased with him as to forgive him if he were to repeat the word 'father' a thousand times? This might please children or fools; but God is wise。 He told me that I must get faith; I asked what faith was; to which he gave me no intelligible reply; but said I must obey God。 I answered; what are His commands? what is His will? They said God was a great light; and as no one could see him; he became incarnate; under the threefold character of Brhumma; Bishno; and Seeb; and that either of them must be worshipped in order to life。 I told them of the sure Word of the Gospel; and the way of life by Christ; and; night coming on; left them。 I cannot tell what effect it may have; as I may never see them again。〃
At the beginning of the great rains in the middle of June Carey joined Mr。 Udny and his mother at the chief factory。 On each of the next two Sabbaths he preached twice in the hall of the Residency of the Company; which excluded all Christian missionaries by Act of Parliament。 As an indigo planter he received the Company's licence to reside for at least five years。 So on 26th June he began his secular duties by completing for the season of indigo manufacture the buildings at Mudnabati; and making the acquaintance of the ninety natives under his charge。 Both Mr。 Udny and he knew well that he was above all things a Christian missionary。 〃These will furnish a congregation immediately; and; added to the extensive engagements which I must necessarily have with the natives; will open a very wide door for activity。 God grant that it may not only be large but effectual。〃
These were the days; which continued till the next charter; when the East India Company was still not only a body of merchants but of manufacturers。 Of all the old monopolies only the most evil one is left; that of the growth; manufacture; and sale of opium。 The civil servants; who were termed Residents; had not political duties with tributary sovereigns as now; but from great factory…like palaces; and on large salaries; made advances of money to contractors; native and European; who induced the ryots to weave cloth; to breed and feed the silkworm; and to grow and make the blue dye to which India had long given the name of 〃indigo。〃 Mr。 Carey was already familiar with the system of advances for salt; and the opium monopoly was then in its infancy。 The European contractors were 〃interlopers;〃 who introduced the most valuable cultivation and processes