Christianity in India, continued-Danish Mission at Tranquebar-Ziegenbalg and his Colleagues-Translation of the Scriptures into the Tamil Language- Evangelistic and Pastoral Labour-Mission aided by the Society for the Propa- gation of the Gospel-Letter of George the First-Archbishop Tenison's Christianity in India, continued—Anglo-Indian Government Measures-Inade- quacy of Religious Instruction in India-The Zeal of some of the English Chaplains: Buchanan, Brown, Martyn, Corrie, Thomason, Kerr-Indian Christianity in India, continued—Society for the Propagation of the Gospel— Church Missionary Society-Kindred Institutions-Progress of English Educa- tion and Western Science-Claims of India as a Mission Field-Inviting THE LAND OF THE VEDA. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.-INDIA DEFINED. ITS SCENERY, FERTILITY, PRODUCTIONS.-COMMERCE WITH ARABIA, PERSIA, EGYPT, PHOENICIA, GREECE, ROME, CONSTANTINOPLE, BAGDAD, VENICE, LISBON, AND HOLLAND-THE ENGLISH-THEIR CONQUESTS IN INDIA, ADVANTAGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. THE Land of the Veda, a designation which is intended to comprehend the continent of India, is certainly one of the most interesting portions of the world. In respect to area and population it is but little inferior to Europe; and since it includes within its boundaries the characteristics both of the tropical and temperate zones, it possesses greater natural resources. Indeed, its diversified physical features, climates and capabilities, constitute it an epitome of the globe. In a commercial point of view no country, whether of ancient or modern times, can be compared to it in importance; and as it is the largest territory that has ever been placed under a foreign sceptre, so it is unquestionably the most valuable appendage of the British Empire. Under other aspects bearing on the history of the human race, India presents to us features not less remarkable. Its primitive manners; its original civilization; its refined languages; its civil and religious institutions; its mythological B its and legendary traditions; its dramatic and heroic poems; magnificent temples and numerous architectural monuments; as well as other matters, pertaining to the social and religious condition of man, are of deep interest. It can hardly be said that we know the history of mankind, while unacquainted with the condition of the Hindus; a people, in number equal to a sixth portion of the inhabitants of our planet; and who have brought down to our own times the language, literature, and institutions that their ancestors possessed when Moses was a student in the sister-country, Egypt. There are yet other aspects under which the Land of the Veda may be viewed, that to those who are likely to take an interest in this volume, will not be less impressive. Whilst fully participating with the statesman, the philosopher, and the political economist, in the sentiments they may indulge in regard to the importance of India as a source of national aggrandisement, and as a sphere for commercial enterprise, and philosophical research into subjects of an archæological nature, the enlightened philanthropist cannot overlook the moral wants of the country, nor the claims its population has on the sympathies and efforts of the Christian Church. True it is that her territorial possessions in India are of vast importance to the British nation; and equally so that the social, literary, and scientific concernments of the Hindus are deeply interesting to the scholar; but it is also true that, notwithstanding the manifold features of attractiveness the prospect wears in these respects, the people of India, generally, are greatly debased: they are the victims of religious error, and enslaved by an ancestral faith and social institutions of the most degrading character. Under these circumstances the Christian, be his station what it may, will not be satisfied merely because the secular objects connected with our paternal and beneficent rule are secured to the country; he will extend his regards further, and seek the spiritual interests, and consequently the evangelization of its inhabitants, as the most important object to be achieved. Whilst blinding ignorance and brutalizing superstition enslave their deluded votaries, and foul and cruel rites pollute and disgrace that fair country, he cannot cease to strive for the diffusion among the people of the "saving health," designed, as he believes, for all nations. The matter of Christian duty may be placed in another light. If it be admitted-and it is thought that history, sacred and profane, alike compel the admission-that "true religion is not only the source and measure of national prosperity, but the very end of national existence," it may be consistently assumed that patriotism will combine with Christian sentiment in the attempt to promote its extension at home and throughout the empire. And since, in the course of providence, India, with its population of more than one hundred and fifty millions, has been placed under the rule of a Christian government, it can scarcely be doubted for what end this enlarged empire has been vouchsafed in view of the principle just enunciated, and the necessities of those who are brought within the sphere of our influence. As regards the connexion that subsists between this country and India, the history of the past may be added to the motives which principle supplies, to urge on the attention of the British Church the promulgation of Christianity among its inhabitants. It has been stated as a fact of history, "that whatever city, or nation, has, in the lapse of past ages, held in its hands the keys of Indian commerce and Indian influence, that city or nation has, for the time being, stood forth in the van of the civilized world as the richest and most flourishing." If this position cannot be gainsaid, then surely it behoves Britain to weigh well the conditions under which she now possesses the advantages her connexion with India confers for on her fidelity in the fulfilment of those conditions must depend the continuance of the favours she enjoys. No one who believes in the divine inspiration of the Sacred Scriptures will question the truth of this sentiment it is, in part at least, for its enforcement that the present work is offered to the Christian public. There can be no doubt that one great reason why so little is attempted in certain quarters for the conversion of India, is the lack of information respecting its condition, and its claims on Christian sympathy. There appears no ground to believe that where right views of duty are entertained by the earnest Christian, any reluctance in its performance will be shown when self-sacrifice and aid are required. It is fair to conclude that, if it can be proved that a beneficent act is demanded under circumstances authorizing the belief that good can thereby be accomplished, few will withhold their aid if it be within their power to afford it. In the course of the following pages it will be made to appear, I think, that in India there is not only an urgent necessity for the ameliorating doctrines of Christianity, but facilities for their promulgation of the most encouraging kind; so that the command that enjoins duty in this behalf, proportioned to opportunity, must be felt to be binding. The information concerning the condition of the Hindus, and the progress of the Gospel among them, now offered for consideration, may, it is hoped, induce a more active and enlarged charity, and thereby augment the means which the Church employs for their intellectual and moral regeneration. In furtherance of the object attempted in this little volume, it is thought that a few pages may be devoted to the physical characteristics of the country, its boundaries, extent, scenery, productions, and other kindred matters, which require to be known in order to a correct estimate of our Indian Empire, and its inhabitants. Such information must however be supplied in the briefest possible way, and ought to be regarded, like the work itself, as a mere epitome of the subject to which it relates. With a view to facilitate an acquaintance with India physically and geographically, a map has been attached to this volume, whose outline it may be convenient to trace. |