第 28 节
作者:垃圾王      更新:2021-02-24 22:51      字数:9320
  ssaulted on their way home。  Just thirty years after; in Calcutta; the first public breach of caste by the young Brahman students of Duff raised a still greater commotion; and resulted in the first converts there。 Krishna Pal and his wife; his wife's sister and his four daughters; Gokool; his wife; and a widow of forty who lived beside them; formed the first group of Christian Hindoos of caste in India north of Madras。  Two years after Krishna Pal sent to the Society this confession of his faith。  Literally translated; it is a record of belief such as Paul himself might have written; illustrated by an apostolic life of twenty…two years。  The carpenter's confession and dedication has; in the original; an exquisite tenderness; reflected also in the hymn11 which he wrote for family worship:
  〃SERAMPORE; 12th Oct。 1802。
  〃To the brethren of the church of our Saviour Jesus Christ; our souls' beloved; my affectionately embracing representation。  The love of God; the gospel of Jesus Christ; was made known by holy brother Thomas。  In that day our minds were filled with joy。  Then judging; we understood that we were dwelling in darkness。  Through the door of manifestation we came to know that; sin confessing; sin forsaking; Christ's righteousness embracing; salvation would be obtained。  By light springing up in the heart; we knew that sinners becoming repentant; through the sufferings of Christ; obtain salvation。  In this rejoicing; and in Christ's love believing; I obtained mercy。  Now it is in my mind continually to dwell in the love of Christ: this is the desire of my soul。  Do you; holy people; pour down love upon us; that as the chatookee we may be satisfied。12 I was the vilest of sinners: He hath saved me。  Now this word I will tell to the world。  Going forth; I will proclaim the love of Christ with rejoicing。  To sinners I will say this word: Here sinner; brother!  Without Christ there is no help。  Christ; the world to save; gave his own soul!  Such love was never heard: for enemies Christ gave his own soul!  Such compassion; where shall we get?  For the sake of saving sinners he forsook the happiness of heaven。  I will constantly stay near him。  Being awakened by this news; I will constantly dwell in the town of joy。  In the Holy Spirit I will live: yet in Christ's sorrow I will be sorrowful。  I will dwell along with happiness; continually meditating on this;Christ will save the world!  In Christ not taking refuge; there is no other way of life。  I was indeed a sinner; praise not knowing。This is the representation of Christ's servant;
  〃KRISTNO。〃
  Such is the first epistle of the Church of India。  Thus the first medical missionary had his reward; but the joy proved to be too much for him。  When Carey led Krishna and his own son Felix down into the water of baptism the ravings of Thomas in the schoolhouse on the one side; and of Mrs。 Carey on the other; mingled with the strains of the Bengali hymn of praise。  The Mission Journal; written by Ward; tells with graphic simplicity how caste as well as idol…worship was overcome not only by the men but the women representatives of a race whom; thirty years after; Macaulay described as destitute of courage; independence; and veracity; and bold only in deceit。 Christ is changing all that。
  〃Nov。 27。Krishna; the man whose arm was set; overtook Felix and me; and said he would come to our house daily for instruction; for that we had not only cured his arm; but brought him the news of salvation。。。
  〃Dec。 5。Yesterday evening Gokool and Krishna prayed in my room。 This morning Gokool called upon us; and told us that his wife and two or three more of his family had left him on account of the gospel。  He had eaten of Krishna's rice; who being of another caste; Gokool had lost his。  Krishna says his wife and family are all desirous of becoming Christians。  They declare their willingness to join us; and obey all our Saviour's commands。  Gokool and his wife had a long talk; but she continued determined; and is gone to her relations。
  〃Dec。 6。This morning brother Carey and I went to Krishna's house。 Everything was made very clean。  The women sat within the house; the children at the door; and Krishna and Gokool with brother Carey and I in the court。  The houses of the poor are only calculated for sleeping in。  Brother Carey talked; and the women appeared to have learned more of the gospel than we expected。  They declared for Christ at once。  This work was new; even to brother Carey。  A whole family desiring to hear the gospel; and declaring in favour of it! Krishna's wife said she had received great joy from it。
  〃Lord's…day; Dec。 7。This morning brother Carey went to Krishna's house; and spoke to a yard full of people; who heard with great attention though trembling with cold。  Brother Brunsdon is very poorly。  Krishna's wife and her sister were to have been with us in the evening; but the women have many scruples to sitting in the company of Europeans。  Some of them scarcely ever go out but to the river; and if they meet a European run away。  Sometimes when we have begun to speak in a street; some one desires us to remove to a little distance; for the women dare not come by us to fill their jars at the river。  We always obey。。。
  〃Dec。 11。Gokool; Krishna; and family continue to seek after the Word; and profess their entire willingness to join us。  The women seem to have learnt that sin is a dreadful thing; and to have received joy in hearing of Jesus Christ。  We see them all every day almost。  They live but half a mile from us。  We think it right to make many allowances for ignorance; and for a state of mind produced by a corrupt superstition。  We therefore cannot think of demanding from them; previous to baptism; to more than a profession of dependence on Christ; from a knowledge of their need of Him; and submission to Him in all things。  We now begin to talk of baptism。 Yesterday we fixed upon the spot; before our gate; in the river。 We begin to talk also of many other things concerning the discipled natives。  This evening Felix and I went to Gokool's house。  Krishna and his wife and a br鄊mh鄋 were present。  I said a little。  Felix read the four last chapters of John to them; and spoke also。  We sat down upon a piece of mat in the front of the house。 (No chairs。) It was very pleasant。  To have natives who feel a little as we do ourselves; is so new and different。  The country itself seems to wear a new aspect to me。。。
  〃Dec。 13。This evening Felix and I went to see our friends Gokool and Krishna。  The latter was out。  Gokool gave a pleasing account of the state of his mind; and also of that of Krishna and his family。 While we were there; Gokool's gooroo (teacher) came for the first time since his losing caste。  Gokool refused to prostrate himself at his feet while he should put his foot on his head; for which his gooroo was displeased。。。
  〃Dec。 22。This day Gokool and Krishna came to eat tiffin (what in England is called luncheon) with us; and thus publicly threw away their caste。  Brethren Carey and Thomas went to prayer with the two natives before they proceeded to this act。  All our servants were astonished: so many had said that nobody would ever mind Christ or lose caste。  Brother Thomas has waited fifteen years; and thrown away much upon deceitful characters: brother Carey has waited till hope of his own success has almost expired; and after all; God has done it with perfect ease!  Thus the door of faith is open to the gentiles; who shall shut it?  The chain of the caste is broken; who shall mend it?〃
  Carey thus describes the baptism:〃Dec。 29。Yesterday was a day of great joy。  I had the happiness to desecrate the Gunga; by baptising the first Hindoo; viz。 Krishna; and my son Felix: some circumstances turned up to delay the baptism of Gokool and the two women。 Krishna's coming forward alone; however; gave us very great pleasure; and his joy at both ordinances was very great。  The river runs just before our gate; in front of the house; and; I think; is as wide as the Thames at Gravesend。  We intended to have baptised at nine in the morning; but; on account of the tide; were obliged to defer it till nearly one o'clock; and it was administered just after the English preaching。  The Governor and a good number of Europeans were present。  Brother Ward preached a sermon in English; from John v。 39'Search the Scriptures。'  We then went to the water…side; where I addressed the people in Bengali; after having sung a Bengali translation of 'Jesus; and shall it ever be?' and engaging in prayer。  After the address I administered the ordinance; first to my son; then to Krishna。  At half…past four I administered the Lord's Supper; and a time of real refreshing it was。。。
  〃Thus; you see; God is making way for us; and giving success to the word of His grace!  We have toiled long; and have met with many discouragements; but; at last; the Lord has appeared for us。  May we have the true spirit of nurses; to train them up in the words of faith and sound doctrine!  I have no fear of any one; however; in this respect; but myself。  I feel much concerned that they may act worthy of their vocation; and also that they may be able to teach others。  I think it becomes us to make the most of every one whom th