第 83 节
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垃圾王 更新:2021-02-24 22:52 字数:9322
he first to move in this enterprise and to his colleagues?〃 The Brotherhood had hardly despatched this appeal to England with the sentence; 〃Our present incomes even are uncertain;〃 when the shears of financial reduction cut off Dr。 Carey's office of Bengali translator to Government; which for eight years had yielded him Rs。 300 a month。 But such was his faith this final stroke called forth only an expression of regret that he must reduce his contributions to the missionary cause by so much。 He was a wonder to his colleagues; who wrote of him: 〃Though thus reduced in his circumstances the good man; about to enter on his seventieth year; is as cheerful and as happy as the day is long。 He rides out four or five miles every morning; returning home by sunrise; goes on with the work of translation day by day; gives two lectures on divinity and one on natural history every week in the college; and takes his turn of preaching both in Bengali and in English。〃
When the Christian public responded heartily to his appeal Carey was loud and frequent in his expressions of gratitude to God; who; 〃in the time of our great extremity; appeared and stirred up His people thus willingly to offer their substance for His cause。〃 With respect to myself; I consider my race as nearly run。 The days of our years are three score years and ten; and I am now only three months short of that age; and repeated bilious attacks have weakened my constitution。 But I do not look forward to death with any painful anticipations。 I cast myself on and plead the efficacy of that atonement which will not fail me when I need it。〃
Dr。 Marshman gives us a brighter picture of him。 〃I met with very few friends in England in their seventieth year so lively; as free from the infirmities of age; so interesting in the pulpit; so completely conversible as he is now。〃 The reason is found in the fact that he was still useful; still busy at the work he loved most of all。 He completed his last revision of the entire Bible in Bengalithe fifth edition of the Old Testament and the eighth edition of the Newin June 1832。 Immediately thereafter; when presiding at the ordination of Mr。 Mack as co…pastor with Dr。 Marshman and himself over the church at Serampore; he took with him into the pulpit the first copy of the sacred volume which came from the binder's hands; and addressed the converts and their children from the words of Simeon〃Lord now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation。〃 As the months went on he carried through the press still another and improved edition of the New Testament; and only then he felt and often said that the work of his heart was done。
He had other sources of saintly pleasure as he lay meditating on the Word; and praising God for His goodness to the college and the mission stations increased to nineteen by young Sir Henry Havelock; who founded the church at Agra。 Lord William Bentinck; having begun his reign with the abolition of the crime of suttee; was; with the help of Carey's old students; steadily carrying out the other reforms for which in all his Indian career the missionary had prayed and preached and published。 The judicial service was reorganised so as to include native judges。 The uncovenanted civil service was opened to all British subjects of every creed。 The first act of justice to native Christians was thus done; so that he wrote of the college:〃The students are now eligible to every legal appointment in India which a native can hold; those who may possess no love for the Christian ministry have the prospect of a profitable profession as advocates in the judicial courts; and the hope of rising to posts of honourable distinction in their native land。〃 The Hindoo law of inheritance which the Regulating Act of Parliament had so covered that it was used to deprive converts to Christianity of all civil rights; was dealt with so far as a local regulation could do so; and Carey; advised by such an authority as Harington; laid it on his successor in the apostolate; the young Alexander Duff; to carry the act of justice out fully; which was done under the Marquis of Dalhousie。 The orders drawn up by Charles Grant's sons at last; in February 1833; freed Great Britain from responsibility for the connection of the East India Company with Temple and mosque endowments and the pilgrim tax。
His son Jonathan wrote this of him two years after his death:
〃In principle my father was resolute and firm; never shrinking from avowing and maintaining his sentiments。 He had conscientious scruples against taking an oath; and condemned severely the manner in which oaths were administered; and urged vehemently the propriety of altogether dispensing with them。 I remember three instances in which he took a conspicuous part in regard to oaths; such as was characteristic of the man。 On one occasion; when a respectable Hindoo servant of the college of Fort William; attached to Dr。 Carey's department; was early one morning proceeding to the Ganges to bathe; he perceived a dead body lying near the road; but it being dark; and no person being present; he passed on; taking no further notice of the circumstance。 As he returned from the Ganges after sunrise; he saw a crowd near the body; and then happened to say to one of the watchmen present that in the morning he saw the body on the other side of the road。 The watchman took him in custody; as a witness before the coroner; but; when brought before the coroner; he refused to take an oath; and was; consequently; committed to prison for contempt。 The Hindoo being a respectable person; and never having taken an oath; refused to take any nourishment in the prison。 In this state he continued a day and a half; my father being then at Serampore; but upon his coming to Calcutta; the circumstances were mentioned to him。 The fact of the man having refused to take an oath was enough to make him interest himself in his behalf。 He was delighted with the resolution the man tookrather to go to prison than take an oath; and was determined to do all he could to procure his liberation。 He first applied to the coroner; but was directed by him to the sheriff。 To that functionary he proceeded; but was informed by him that he could make no order on the subject。 He then had an interview with the then chief judge; by whose interference the man was set at liberty。
〃Another instance relates to him personally。 On the occasion of his last marriage; the day was fixed on which the ceremony was to take placefriends were invitedand all necessary arrangements made; but; three or four days prior to the day fixed; he was informed that it would be necessary for him to obtain a licence; in doing which; he must either take an oath or have banns published。 To taking an oath he at once objected; and applied to the then senior judge; who informed him that; as he was not a quaker; his oath was indispensable; but; rather than take an oath; he applied to have the banns published; and postponed the arrangements for his marriage for another three weeks。
〃The third instance was as follows:It was necessary; in a certain case; to prove a will in court; in which the name of Dr。 Carey was mentioned; in connection with the Serampore missionaries as executors。 An application was made by one of his colleagues; which was refused by the court; on account of the vagueness of the terms; 'Serampore missionaries;' but as Dr。 Carey's name was specifically mentioned; the court intimated that they would grant the application if made by him。 The communication was made: but when he was informed that an oath was necessary; he shrunk with abhorrence from the idea; but after much persuasion; he consented to make the application; if taking an oath would be dispensed with。 He did attend; and stated his objections to the then chief judge; which being allowed; his affirmation was received and recorded by the court。
〃The duties connected with the College of Fort William afforded him a change of scene; which relieved his mind; and gave him opportunities of taking exercise; and conduced much to his health。 During the several years he held the situation of professor to the college; no consideration would allow him to neglect his attendance; and though he had to encounter boisterous weather in crossing the river at unseasonable hours; he was punctual in his attendance; and never applied for leave of absence。 And when he was qualified by the rules of the service to retire on a handsome pension; he preferred being actively employed in promoting the interests of the college; and remained; assiduously discharging his duties; till his department was abolished by Government。 The business of the college requiring his attendance in Calcutta; he became so habituated to his journeys to and fro; that at his age he painfully felt the retirement he was subjected to when his office ceased。 After this circumstance his health rapidly declined; and though he occasionally visited Calcutta; he complained of extreme debility。 This increased daily; and made him a constant sufferer; until at length he was not able to leave his house。〃
Nor was it in India alone that the venerable saint found such causes of satisfaction。 He lived long enough to tha