Nabob, but met with another refusal, accompanied, however, with a profusion of Oriental compliments.

The Heathen were now beginning to be more inquisitive into Christianity; and this animated him much in his preaching. The awakening, however, of some Roman Catholics to a sense of the importance of religion, gave rise to a spirit of persecution which occasioned him much trouble. One of the Catechists having visited a sick relative of his own, an ignorant Papist, the sick man entreated his instruction. The Catechist explained to him the doctrines of Repentance, and of Faith in Christ: he lent a willing ear, and soon after died. The Catechist wished, as being a near relative, to attend his funeral; but, the Roman Catholics disliking this, and the Popish Catechist having given him a blow, all the rest fell on him, and beat him so unmercifully, that the very Heathen cried out against them as murderers.

Mr. Swartz found, indeed, the Jesuits to be the greatest enemies of the Mission. They discovered their enmity in stirring up the poor country people to raise disturbances. He met, about this period, with a very mortifying instance of this evil influence. In a country town there appeared a most pleasing prospect of a plentiful harvest, the greater part of the inhabitants. having shewn a willingness to be instructed. In Mr. Swartz's absence, however, the Roman Catholic Priest threatened his people, and refused to baptize any children, and to marry and bury any of his congregation, unless they would enter into a covenant to obtain the removal of the Protestant Missionary and his Catechists. He told the Heathens, too, that if Mr. Swartz and his assistants gained ground, their pagodas would fall to ruin, and their feasts cease. The Catechists met, in consequence, with such ill treatment, that they were obliged to quit the place; and, as any application to the magistrates would but have increased the evil, Mr. Swartz chose rather to bear this persecution patiently, entreating God to remedy the evil in his good time.

With all ranks of Heathens this man of God was accustomed to converse freely. Multitudes would hear him explain Christianity, and would even applaud. It was no unusual thing with them to reply: "True; what can avail all our images, and our numberless ceremonies! There is but one Supreme Being, the Maker and Preserver of all!" But their convictions ended with their applause!

"In one of my journeys," says he, "I arrived at a large place where the Heathen celebrated a feast. I was struck with the excessive crowd which I saw before me. I stood at some distance from them; but was soon surrounded by a number of people, to whom I explained the glorious perfections of God, and remarked how absurd the worship of images was; and how they dishon

oured God by all their idolatry, and enhanced their own misery. I told them at the same time, what infinite mercy God had shewn to lost sinners by sending them a Redeemer, and how they might become partakers of the benefit of redemption. All seemed pleased; acknowledging their folly, and the excellency of this Christian doctrine. Before and after noon, new crowds came near. I spoke till I was quite exhausted."

These labours were not in vain: many of the Heathen were brought to embrace the truth.

Among these converts, Mr. Swartz mentioned one in particu lar-a young man of the higher cast, who deliberated above three years whether he should embrace Christianity. His numerous relatives had been his great obstacle. He had, however, yielded, at length to his convictions. The Heathen shunned and reviled him; while he endured their persecution with humility, yet without dejection. His countrymen, perceiving that they could not depress his spirits, acknowledged in the end, the wrong which they had done him, and even entreated him to read to them some passages of the New-Testament.

In a village not far from Mr. Swartz's residence, a whole family had been converted. On their return home, all the village. was enraged against them, refusing them a share in the most common acts of kindness, and even forbidding them to walk in the public road. As they suffered all this persecution, however, with humility, and with some degree of cheerful boldness, their Heathen neighbours became ashamed of their conduct and treated them with more humanity.

In another village also a whole family had embraced Christianity. Their son-in-law was the principal man in the village. He was incensed at the conversion of the family, and directed his father-in-law to return no more. By gentle representations, however, his rage, and that of the people, subsided; and Mr. Swartz began to entertain hopes of shortly seeing the whole place inhabited by Christians.

Mr. Swartz took unwearied pains with his Assistant Catechists. They were all employed daily in preaching the Gospel over the various parts of the country," and trying," to use his own words, "whether they might be so happy as to bring some of their wandering fellow-creatures into the Way of Truth."

What an abode was the house of this great and good man! He daily assembled all the Catechists who were not on stations too far distant, and instructed them how to explain the truths of Christianity, and to address the natives in a mild and winning manner, overlooking the passionate and rough speeches which would sometimes be returned for their love. In the morning the Catechists joined with him in prayer, and in meditating on the word of God; after which every one was directed whither to go

that day. In the evening, they gave an account of their labours, relating the encouraging and discouraging circumstances: and the day closed, as it began, with meditation and prayer.

His ministry was, in various instances, successful among the soldiers in garrison, to whom he acted as chaplain.

Poor widows also came in for a share of the attention of this benevolent man. A sum of money having been sent to him for their benefit, he resolved to expend it in the erection of comfortable tenements, but the design was brought to a stand for want of further funds. The young Rajah of Tanjore, however, visiting that part of the country, Mr. Swartz pleaded with him in behalf of the widows; and, succeeding in his application, completed a row of small houses for the comfortable reception of these destitute women.'

Anxious to extend the sphere of his labours, he prayed earnestly for more assistance in the mission, that he might be enabled to reside some months every year at Tanjore; and, if it should be found expedient, establish himself there.

His exertions were not confined to the instruction and conver sion of the adult Natives and Europeans; but, with equal zeal and fidelity, he laboured for the salvation of the Europeans, both civil and military, who resided at any time within reach of his Christian charity. He opened English and Malabar schools in various places, and was affectionate and unwearied in his attention to children.

Of this part of his character, the following letter, the original of which was communicated to us by the Rev. Basil Wood, is an interesting illustration. It was written to the children of Colonel Wood, then left fatherless; they were from six to eleven years of age.

"To the dear Children

"Grace, Mercy, and Peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

DEAR CHILDREN,

"As the time is very near when you, as I suppose, will leave this country, I thought it my duty to write you a short exhortation, which you are so willing to receive from me, your old friend.

"When you leave this country, I beseech you, take none of the sins which are so manifest here with you. Beg of your Redeemer to forgive you all sins, and to grant you the help of his Holy Spirit, to love, fear, honour and obey God. Learn the will of God, and practise it daily, as you have given us some pleasing ground for hope. As your age is not easily given to grief, make use of your innocent cheerfulness to gladden the

heart of your Mamma. You cannot please her better than by obedience, and willingness to learn to pray, and to fear God. Endeavour to please her and your Heavenly Father by all this. Read every day your beloved Bible: pray heartily, and forget not to sing a song of praise to your Redeemer. Whenever your Dear Mamma forbids you a thing, be ready to obey: never give way to any stubbornness; and, as you know that God is highly pleased with humility, learn to be so; entreating your Saviour to destroy all the seed of pride, and to clothe you with humility. May the blessing of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be with you. Amen.

"Remember me, and pray for me, that I may walk worthy of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; and that, by my poor Ministry, many souls may truly be converted to him.

"I remain sincerely, dear Children and my young Friends, "Your affectionate Friend, and humble Servant, CHRISTIAN FREDERICK SWARTZ."

"Tritchinapoly, January 16, 1775.

He was joined in the work of the Mission, in 1777, by the Rev. Christian Pohlé, whom the Danish Missionaries at Tranque bar sent to his assistance ;-a man of piety, zeal, and talents: who continues to fulfil to this day, in the service of the "Society for promoting Christian Knowledge," as the successor of his venerable friend, the expectations which Mr. Swartz had formed of him. He soon made himself master, by diligent application, of the English and Malabar languages, sufficiently to minister with acceptance in both tongues, and took a very active part in assisting Mr. Swartz in the whole business of the ministry and the schools.

June the 16th of this year, the Rev. J. J. Schoelkopf arrived at Madras, being sent out by the Society to assist Mr. Swartz. It pleased God, however, to remove him before he could enter on his labours. He was, almost immediately on his landing, seized with a bloody flux, and died at Madras on the 11th of July. "My grief," says Mr. Swartz, "was great; but, well, knowing that all the ways of a holy God are good, I resigned my will to his wise providence. He is the Lord of his Church. May He have mercy upon us, and send faithful labourers into his vineyard!"

Mr. Swartz writes in 1779, that among the Heathen, at his two stations at Trichinapoly and Tanjore, are many thousands even amongst Bramins, who confess that their idolatry is a vain. and sinful thing, and that nothing but fear keeps them at present from embracing the Christian Religion. It is to be hoped this conviction will embolden them one day or another to shake off that inglorious servitude of sin and Satan. He says that there

hardly passeth a day in which Bramins do not visit his house at Tanjore; that they hear attentively what is said to them; that they frequently take up a book, in which the doctrine of the Christian Religion is explained, and that they praise that doctrine as a Divine one.

A Bramin being asked what he would now resolve upon, whether he purposed to stifle all conviction, or whether he intended to receive that Divine doctrine and to profess it, replied, that he could not deny the conviction which he had received, and accordingly had sounded some of his acquaintance; but that they all insisted upon the task as too difficult and dangerous, on account of the great numbers of the professors of idolatry.

"For my part (says Mr. Swartz) I entertain a cheerful hope of seeing better days, and therefore rejoice in the present opportunity of preaching the salutary doctrine of Christ, frequently calling to my mind that there is a time of sowing preceding that of reaping. At Tritchinapoly, we begin and end the day with public prayer. At Tanjore I have introduced the same custom. Very often Bramins and other Heathens have been present, observing our reading the word of God, our singing and praying. I never discourage the Heathen from being present at any of our solemn acts of worship."

In 1779, the garrison at Tanjore being numerous, Mr. Swartz addressed a letter to the Governor and council at Madras, and obtained immediately their public sanction and contributions to the erection of a Church, in which Divine Service might be performed in a proper and becoming manner. The first stone of

this edifice was laid by general Munro. The funds failing, Mr. Swartz addressed the Honourable Board at Madras for further aid. He was desired in reply to come with all possible speed to Madras. The object of this summons will be best explained in his own simple and impressive narration.

"At my arrival, Governor Rumbold told me that my request should be granted: the other gentlemen assured me of the same. Here I was acquainted with the purpose for which I was called before the Presidency. The Governor told me, that they wished to preserve peace with Hyder Ally; but, as he entertained some mistaken notions, and evil persons endeavoured to confirm him in those bad ideas, the Honourable Board desired I would take a journey to Seringapatam in a private manner, and undeceive him by a fair declaration of their pacific sentiments; particularly. as I, from my knowledge of the Morish language, could converse with him without the help of an interpreter. The novelty of the proposal surprised me at first; for which reason I begged some time to consider it. At last I accepted of the offer, because by doing so, I hoped to prevent evil, and to promote the welfare of the country. I thought also that I could thereby give some