the following letters, addressed to the Missionaries by his Majesty. "GEORGE, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, "France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. to "the Reverend and learned Bartholomew Ziegenbal"gius and John Ernest Grundlerus, Missionaries at "Tranquebar in the East Indies. "Reverend and Beloved, "Your letters, dated the 20th of January of the pre"sent year, were most welcome to us; not only because "the work undertaken by you of converting the heathen "to the Christian faith, doth, by the grace of God, pros"per, but also because that, in this our kingdom, such a "laudable zeal for the promotion of the gospel prevails. "We pray you may be endued with health and strength "of body, that you may long continue to fulfil your 46 ministry with good success; of which, as we shall be "rejoiced to hear, so you will always find us ready to 66 succour you in whatever may tend to promote your "work, and to excite your zeal. We assure you of the "continuance of our royal favour. "Given at our Palace of Hampton "Court, the 23d of August, "GEORGE R. The King continued to cherish, with much solicitude, the interests of the mission, after the death of Ziegenbalgius; and in ten years from the date of the foregoing letter, a second was addressed to the members of the mission, by his Majesty. "Reverend and Beloved, "From your letters dated Tranquebar, the 12th of September, 1725, which sometime since came to hand, ແ we received much pleasure; since by them we are in"formed, not only of your zealous exertions in the pro"secution of the work committed to you, but also of "the happy success which hath hitherto attended it, "and which hath been graciously given of God. "We return you thanks for this account, and it will "be acceptable to us, if you continue to communicate "whatever shall occur in the progress of your mission. "In the mean time, we pray you may enjoy strength "of body and mind for the long continuance of your "labours in this good work, to the glory of God, and the promotion of Christianity among the heathens; that its "perpetuity may not fail in generations to come.* "Given at our Palace at St. James's, "the 23d of February, 1727, in "GEORGE R. But these Royal Epistles are not the only evangelic documents, of high authority, in the hands of the Hindoos. They are in possession of letters written by the Archbishop of Canterbury, of the same reign;† who supported the * Niecampius, Hist, Mist. + Archbishop Wake. interests of the mission with unexampled liberality, affection, and zeal. These letters, which are many in number, are all written in the Latin language. The following is a translation of his Grace's first letter; which appears to have been written by him as President of the "Society for "promoting Christian Knowledge." "To Bartholomew Ziegenbalgius, and John Ernest "Grundlerus, Preachers of the Christian faith, on the "Coast of Coromandel. "As often as I behold your letters, Reverend Brethren, "addressed to the venerable society instituted for the 66 promotion of the Gospel, whose chief honour and " ornament ye are, and as often as I contemplate the "light of the Gospel, either now first rising on the "Indian nations, or after the intermission of some ages "again revived, and as it were restored to its inheri66 tance; I am constrained to magnify that singular "goodness of God in visiting nations so remote; and "to account you, my Brethren, highly honoured, whose "ministry it hath pleased him to employ in this pious "work, to the glory of his name, and the salvation of so many millions of souls. "Let others indulge in a ministry, if not idle, cer❝tainly less laborious, among Christians at home. "Let them enjoy in the bosom of the Church, titles " and honours, obtained without labour or without "danger. Your praise it will be (a praise of endless "duration on earth, and followed by a just recompence " in heaven) to have laboured in the vineyard which "yourselves have planted; to have declared the name "of Christ where it was not known before; and through "much peril and difficulty to have converted to the "faith those among whom ye afterwards fulfilled your ❝ ministry. Your province, therefore, Brethren, your "office, I place before all dignities in the Church. "Let others be Pontiffs, Patriarchs, or Popes; let them "glitter in purple, in scarlet, or in gold; let them seek "the admiration of the wondering multitude, and receive "" obeisance on the bended knee. Ye have acquired a better name than they, and a more sacred fame. "And when that day shall arrive when the chief shepherd "shall give to every man according to his work, a greater "reward shall be adjudged to you. Admitted into the "glorious society of the Prophets, Evangelists, and "Apostles, ye, with them, shall shine, like the sun among the lesser stars, in the kingdom of your Father, ❝ for ever. "Since then so great honour is now given unto you "by all competent judges on earth, and since so great "reward is laid up for you in heaven; go forth with "alacrity to that work, to which the Holy Ghost hath ❝called you. God hath already given to you an illus"trious pledge of his favour, an increase not to be expected without the aid of his grace. Ye have begun happily, proceed with spirit. He, who hath carried you safely through the dangers of the seas to such a "remote country, and who hath given you favour in the 66 eyes of those whose countenance ye most desired, he who hath so liberally and unexpectedly ministered "unto your wants, and who doth now daily add members "to your Church; he will continue to prosper your "endeavours, and will subdue unto himself, by your 66 means, the whole Continent of Oriental India. "O happy men! who standing before the tribunal of "Christ shall exhibit so many nations converted to his "faith by your preaching; happy men! to whom it "shall be given to say, before the assembly of the whole "human race; Behold us, O Lord, and the Children "whom thou hast given us ;' happy men! who being justified by the Saviour, shall receive in that day the "reward of your labours, and also shall hear that glorious "encomium; Well done, good and faithful servants, "enter ye into the joy of your Lord.' 6 "May Almighty God graciously favour you and your "labours in all things. May he send to your aid fellow"labourers, such and as many as ye wish. May he "increase the bounds of your Churches. May he open "the hearts of those to whom ye preach the Gospel of "Christ, that hearing you, they may receive life-giving "faith. May he protect you and yours from all evils "and dangers. And when ye arrive (may it be late) at "the end of your course, may the same God, who hath "called you to this work of the Gospel, and hath pre"served you in it, grant to you the reward of your ❝ labour, an incorruptible crown of glory. "These are the fervent wishes and prayers of, vene"rable Brethren, "Your most faithful "fellow-servant in Christ, "GULIELMUS CANT. "From our palace at Lambeth, 66 January 7, A. D, 1719." |
