第 42 节
作者:垃圾王      更新:2021-02-24 22:51      字数:9322
  hand; his Sanskrit Bible before him; and his Brahman pundit at his left hand; the saint and the scholar in the ripeness of his powers at fifty was transferred to the canvas which has since adorned the walls of Regent's Park College。  A line engraving of the portrait was published in England the year after at a guinea; and widely purchased; the profit going to the mission。  The painter was Home; famous in his day as the artist whom Lord Cornwallis had engaged during the first war with Tipoo to prepare those Select Views in Mysore; the Country of Tipoo Sultaun; from Drawings taken on the Spot; which appeared in 1794。
  Of his four sons; Felix; William; Jabez; and Jonathan; Carey's correspondence was most frequent at this period with William; who went forth in 1807 to Dinapoor to begin his independent career as a missionary by the side of Fernandez。
  〃2nd April 1807。We have the greatest encouragement to go forward in the work of our Lord Jesus; because we have every reason to conclude that it will be successful at last。  It is the cause which God has had in His mind from eternity; the cause for which Christ shed His blood; that for which the Spirit and word of God were given; that which is the subject of many great promises; that for which the saints have been always praying; and which God Himself bears an infinite regard to in His dispensations of Providence and Grace。  The success thereof is therefore certain。  Be encouraged; therefore; my dear son; to devote yourself entirely to it; and to pursue it as a matter of the very first importance even to your dying day。
  〃Give my love to Mr。 and Mrs。 Creighton and to Mr。 Ellerton; Mr。 Grant; or any other who knows me about Malda; also to our native Brethren。〃
  〃CALCUTTA; 29th September 1808。A ship is just arrived which brings the account that Buonaparte has taken possession of the whole kingdom of Spain; and that the Royal family of that country are in prison at Bayonne。  It is likely that Turkey is fallen before now; and what will be the end of these wonders we cannot tell。  I see the wrath of God poured out on the nations which have so long persecuted His Gospel; and prevented the spread of His truth。  Buonaparte is but the minister of the Divine vengeance; the public executioner now employed to execute the sentence of God upon criminal men。  He; however; has no end in view but the gratifying his own ambition。〃
  〃22nd December 1808。DEAR WILLIAMBe steadfast。。。Walk worthy of your high calling; and so as to be a pattern to others who may engage in similar undertakings。  Much depends upon us who go first to the work of the Lord in this country; and we have reason to believe that succeeding Ministers of the Gospel in this country will be more or less influenced by our example。。。All; even the best of men; are more likely to be influenced by evil example than benefited by good: let it; therefore; be your business and mine to live and act for God in all things and at all times。
  〃I am very glad you wrote to Jabez and Jonathan。  O that I could see them converted!〃
  〃30th May 1809。When you come down take a little pains to bring down a few plants of some sort。  There is one grows plentifully about Sadamahal which grows about as high as one's knee; and produces a large red flower。  Put half a dozen plants in pots (with a hole in the bottom)。  There is at Sadamahal (for I found it there) a plant which produces a flower like Bhayt; of a pale bluish colour; almost white; and indeed several other things there。  Try and bring something。  Can't you bring the grasshopper which has a saddle on its back; or the bird which has a large crest which he opens when he settles on the ground?  I want to give you a little taste for natural objects。  Felix is very good indeed in this respect。〃
  〃26th April 1809。You; my dear William; are situated in a post which is very dear to my remembrance because the first years of my residence in India were spent in that neighbourhood。  I therefore greatly rejoice in any exertions which you are enabled to make for the cause of our Redeemer。。。Should you; after many years' labour; be instrumental in the conversion of only one soul; it would be worth the work of a whole life。。。I am not sure that I have been of real use to any one person since I have been in this country; yet I dare not give up the work in which I am engaged。  Indeed; notwithstanding all the discouragements which I feel from my own unfitness for any part of it; I prefer it to everything else; and consider that in the work of my Redeemer I have a rich reward。  If you are enabled to persevere you will feel the same; and will say with the great Apostle'I count not my life dear to me that I may fulfil the ministry which I have received of the Lord。' 'Unto me is this grace (favour) given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ。'  Hold on; therefore; be steady in your work; and leave the result with God。
  〃I have been thinking of a mission to the Ten Tribes of Israel; I mean the Afghans; who inhabit Cabul。。。I leave the other side for your mother to write a few lines to Mary; to whom give my love。〃
  〃CALCUTTA; 1st November 1809。Yesterday was the day for the Chinese examination; at which Jabez acquitted himself with much honour。  I wish his heart were truly set on God。 One of the greatest blessings which I am now anxious to see before my death is the conversion of him and Jonathan; and their being employed in the work of the Lord。
  〃Now; dear William; what do we live for but to promote the cause of our dear Redeemer in the world?  If that be carried on we need not wish for anything more; and if our poor labours are at all blessed to the promotion of that desirable end; our lives will not be in vain。  Let this; therefore; be the great object of your life; and if you should be made the instrument of turning only one soul from darkness to marvellous light; who can say how many more may be converted by his instrumentality; and what a tribute of glory may arise to God from that one conversion。  Indeed; were you never to be blessed to the conversion of one soul; still the pleasure of labouring in the work of the Lord is greater than that of any other undertaking in the world; and is of itself sufficient to make it the work of our choice。  I hope Sebuk Ram is arrived before now; and that you will find him to be a blessing to you in your work。  Try your utmost to make him well acquainted with the Bible; labour to correct his mistakes; and to establish him in the knowledge of the truth。
  〃You may always enclose a pinch of seeds in a letter。〃
  〃17th January 1810。Felix went with Captain Canning; the English ambassador to the Burman Empire; to the city of Pegu。 On his way thither he observed to Captain Canning that he should be greatly gratified in accompanying the Minister to the mountains of Martaban and the country beyond them。  Captain Canning at his next interview with the Minister mentioned this to him; which he was much pleased with; and immediately ordered several buffalo…carts to be made ready; and gave him a war…boat to return to Rangoon to bring his baggage; medicines; etc。  He had no time to consult Brother Chater before he determined on the journey; and wrote to me when at Rangoon; where he stayed only one night; and returned to Pegu the next morning。  He says the Minister has now nearly the whole dominion over the Empire; and is going to war。  He will accompany the army to Martaban; when he expects to stay with the Minister there。  He goes in great spirits to explore those countries where no European has been before him; and where he goes with advantages and accommodations such as a traveller seldom can obtain。  Brother and Sister Chater do not approve of his undertaking; perhaps through fear for his safety。  I feel as much for that as any one can do; yet I; and indeed Brethren Marshman; Ward; and Rowe; rejoice that he has undertaken the journey。  It will assist him in acquiring the language; it will gratify the Minister; it will serve the interests of literature; and perhaps answer many other important purposes; as it respects the mission; and as much of the way will be through uninhabited forests; it could not have been safely undertaken except with an army。  He expects to be absent three months。  I shall feel a great desire to hear from him when he returns; and I doubt not but you will join me in prayer for his safety both of mind and body。。。
  〃One or two words about natural history。  Can you not get me a male and female khokoraI mean the great bird like a kite; which makes so great a noise; and often carries off a duck or a kid?  I believe it is an eagle; and want to examine it。  Send me also all the sorts of ducks and waterfowls you can get; and; in short; every sort of bird you can obtain which is not common here。  Send their Bengali names。  Collect me all the sorts of insects; and serpents; and lizards you can get which are not common here。  Put all the insects together into a bottle of rum; except butterflies; which you may dry between two papers; and the serpents and lizards the same。  I will send you a small quantity of rum for that purpose。  Send all the country names。  Let me have the birds alive; and when you have got a good boat…load send a small boat dow