earnings, more than sixty thousand pounds!-Talk of flaws and imperfections in the multitudinous sayings and doings of such men !-would it not be miraculous if none such could be detected? Owing to man's fallibility, errors in judgment may lead to the projection of inadequate measures; owing to man's frailty, there may often be feebleness in the execution of good ones. But, in all Christendom, let any three men be pointed out, who have done more than Ward, Marshman, and Carey, to earn new trophies for the Redeemer in the hitherto unconquered realms of Paganism,and then, but not till then, would the Author consent to remain silent when the first stone was thrown at the noble, the immortal, triumvirate of Serampore ! In conclusion, the Author cannot but publicly return his unfeigned thanks to his kind and revered friend, the Rev. Dr Brunton,-under whose hospitable roof he has during the last four months found a congenial home, -and for all whose counsels and valuable suggestions, when the present Work was passing through the press, he has been laid under obligations which can never be adequately repaid. Now, to Him, "who is the blessed, and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see ;-to Him be honour and power everlasting. BILSTANE NEAR EDINBURGH, 25th October 1839. Amen." * ** Should any profits arise from the sale of this Publication, they are to be devoted exclusively to purposes promotive of the interests of the India Mission. CONTENTS. INDIA- ITS PARAMOUNT INFLUENCE AND IMPORTANCE-A PRECIOUS BILITIES. Effect of this discovery-Lisbon-Amsterdam, Splendid series of English voyages, with the view of reaching India, The final supremacy of Britain, Three distinct epochs of peculiar interest in behalf of India,- The era of romantic imaginative interest, The era of romantic literary interest, THE THEORY OF HINDUISM-ESSENTIALLY A STUPENDOUS SYSTEM OF The necessity of knowing the real condition of a people, in order to the adoption of effectual measures for their amelioration, This illustrated in the case of India, Religion the master-principle in moulding the character, opinions, Attempt to unfold the orthodox theory of the Brahmanical faith, Foundation of the system in the belief of one great universal Spirit, Description of the nature and character of this Spirit, Shown to be an infinite nothing, yet substantially all things, Reflections on the fact that he is without any moral attributes, the Supreme Spirit, The geographical and astronomical construction of the universe, Summary of the preceding details of the grand theory of Hinduism, A series of statements to show how the facts and doctrines of Chris- Violent disturbance of such an emotion in the mind of a Christian, Sagor Island, and its hundreds of thousands of annual pilgrims, The zeal of the heathen contrasted with the indifference of professing The worshippers of Shiva, their clay symbols and morning orisons, . 216 Besides the daily ceremonies, great annual festivals celebrated in ho- The Goddess Kali, her sanguinary character and worship, The Charak Pujah, or swinging festival, Page. 240 242 244 245 Account of the great day of the festival, when multitudes resort to the celebrated temple of Kali-ghat, in the neighbourhood of Cal- 250 Sketch of the appearance of the groups of devotees, of the temple and monster-block of the idol, 251 . Cruel practices of the worshippers, 254 Their frantic revelries contrasted with the solemnities of a Christian 256 Call upon Christians to come forth to "the help of the Lord against the mighty." 258 CHAPTER IV. THE GOSPEL THE ONLY EFFECTUAL INSTRUMENT IN REGENERATING INDIA-GENERAL CONSIDERATION OF THE VARIOUS AGENCIES TO BE EMPLOYED IN ITS PROPAGATION, AND OF SPECIAL OBJECTIONS. Page. Various expedients proposed for remedying the evils under which India The Gospel, the only effectual instrument of genuine Reformation, 272 272 The practical question proposed, How, or by what means is the Gospel to be most successfully propagated? 281 Quotation from the Author of the Natural History of Enthusiasm, 1. Christian Education of the Young. 2. Preaching to the Adults. 3. The circulation of the Bible. These not antagonists, but mutual friends and allies, In reference to Education, the practical question considered, Whether is it better at the outset, to pursue the direct method of attempting at once to impart a general elementary knowledge to the many, or the indirect method of attempting to reach the many through the instrumentality of the instructed few? 285 290 |