cacy of their endeavours is made visible. We are now undermining the religion of the Hindus; we are imparting to them knowledge which must shake their confidence in the principles on which their religion is founded, and therefore had we not even a single convert, yet if this process of undermining be gradually progressing (and we have no reason to doubt it), who can say that we are doing nothing?

But many say," Asyou have laboured for so long a time with out success, have you not reason to doubt, if not of final success, at least of the suitableness of the means you are now employing?"

If we were employing means devised by human wisdom, we might doubt, but as they are those which God has appointed, why should we? We are preaching the gospel to the heathen, we are conversing with them on religious subjects, we are distributing amongst them the word of God and religious tracts, we are instructing the rising generation in divine things. In fact, from the youngest to the oldest, as far as it is in our power we are directing them in the ways of salvation. Are not these God's appointed means? Why then should we despair and doubt of success? But some say, Does not your want of success prove that God does not intend, at least now, to own your labours? Supposing for argument's sake that we had not any visible success, yet this would not warrant us to suppose that God is hiding his face from us. The history of ancient times, when duly considered, teaches us that nations are not suddenly converted, and that much preparatory work must be accomplished, ere any success is apparent. To support what I have advanced, I will now consider briefly the success of the Apostles, of the Reformers, and of the Missionaries at Tahiti, as these are sometimes brought forward to prove the inefficacy of our undertakings. Let us consider,

1.

The success of the Apostles.

By

A few centuries before the coming of our Saviour, the Jews, who had greatly multiplied, had been scattered for the purposes of trade in almost every part of the then known world; wherever they went they carried with them their religion and their scriptures, and as the Greek was the language most current in the Roman empire, especially in the places where they resided, they had the oracles of God translated into that language. that means the people amongst whom they dwelt were enabled to peruse the word of God. Now, though we have no documents to prove that the Scriptures had been extensively circulated and read, yet there cannot be any doubt of but that numbers of heathen had become proselytes; indeed so great was the influence that the word of God had exerted, that a general expectation of our Saviour's advent existed at the time at

which he made his appearance. The preaching of John the Baptist which was attended by almost all the inhabitants of Judea, and especially that of our Saviour which was attended by the Jews and by multitudes from all the countries around, must have greatly prepared the way of the apostles. Let us recollect that our Saviour who preached for several years, spoke as never man spake, that he daily performed numerous miracles of mercy before the amazed multitude, and we must acknowledge that, when the apostles entered on their spheres of labour, they had their way abundantly prepared for them. Let us not forget also that in almost every place where they went, they had congregations of Jews and proselytes who acknowledged the divine authority of the sacred scriptures. The miracles which they performed also, and the gifts of tongues which they enjoyed, must have convinced the heathen that they were the servants of the true God, and led them therefore to put confidence in the statements which were made. I would observe also that as God gave unto them extraordinary gifts, so of course he would in an extraordinary manner pour out his Spirit on the people. When we then take all these things into consideration, we need not be so astonished at their great success or be discouraged because ours is so little compared with theirs. Let us now consider,

2. The success of the Reformers.

It was very great, but their success also was owing to many events which had previously taken place. Before the days of Luther and Calvin the light of knowledge and literature had shone upon the people, who had been immersed in gross darkness. Many eminent Christians in several parts of Europe had arisen to testify against the superstitions of Popery, and had sealed their testimony with their blood. The people, whose minds had been enlightened by the partial circulations of the scriptures, were in many places weary of the impositions of the priests, and disgusted with their profligacy. They durst not, indeed, at first openly express what they felt, for those who did were put down by the strong hand of power; but as they hated the abominations of Popery they were only waiting for an opportunity to express their sentiments. The cruelties inflicted in public on many eminent Christians increased that feeling, and weaned their affections still more from their cruel priests. When therefore these Reformers boldly preached the gospel and exposed the absurdities of Popery and the wickedness of its ministers, they had the advantage of addressing people who were ready to believe what they advanced. Let us recollect also that they had not to establish a new religion, but to bring the people back to the religion of the primitive

Christians; they were Reformers, and they appealed to the scriptures which were acknowledged by all parties to be the word of God. Their situation then being so different from ours it would be ridiculous for us to expect similar success, and we should not be discouraged because we see as yet so little fruit arising from our endeavours. Let us now consider,

3. The success obtained in the islands of the South Seas. I would by no means disparage the great work which has been accomplished in those islands, though there are some imperfections in it. It is a striking evidence of the mighty power of the Gospel, and is well calculated to encourage and cheer every real Christian. But it affords no ground whatever to suppose that God is not with us in our endeavours to promote the kingdom of our Redeemer; we may rather indulge the hope that in due time, as in those favoured islands, we shall obtain success in such a degree as shall fill our hearts with joy and admiration. The inhabitants of the islands where the Missionaries first laboured were not numerous, only a few thousands. Among this small number of people were several Missionaries. The people had no learned or intellectual men to oppose the statements of these ministers of Christ. They had no ancient records to render their superstitions venerable from antiquity, they had no splendid ceremonies to render their religion attractive, no caste to lose by embracing Christianity. The Missionaries appeared decidedly superior to them, in knowledge, in wisdom, in fact, in almost every thing. From their residing amongst them and trusting to them for protection, they could not doubt the purity of their motives; they must soon have been convinced that they had come but to do them good. Now with all these advantages did they immediately succeed? No. For fifteen years they had not a single convert, though doubtless, during that time, every inhabitant must have frequently heard the gospel. But at last, when most of the Missionaries had forsaken the islands in despair, a few converts were attained, then shortly after all the inhabitants embraced Christianity; and other islands influenced by their example renounced idolatry and flocked to the standard of the cross. Are we to suppose that the success obtained was really sudden? by no means. It was owing to the labours which had preceded it. The seed sown had been silently taking root in the hearts of the people, and at last made its appearance. Many, doubtless, before that time had been seriously impressed, had acquired much knowledge and had been convinced of its truth. May we then not expect that the same will take place in this country, that whenever the gospel has been preached all around the places where missionaries reside, and when a few converts

have been obtained, then multitudes will embrace it, and that others afar off will follow their example?

But when we consider the immense masses of people by whom we are surrounded, the antiquity of their religion, the great influence of caste, and the paucity of missionaries, can we wonder that little has been done? If the Missionaries in the South Seas laboured for 15 years before they had a single convert, we should not be discouraged were we to labour for 60 or even 80 years without much apparent success. We see then, I trust, that we have no cause for discouragement. Let us then engage in our work with cheerfulness, trusting that when some converts shall have been obtained multitudes will speedily be led to follow their example.

Let us now very briefly consider in conclusion those events in the providence of God which are calculated to encourage us.

I would observe that God, having put this immense country under the British Government, we have reason to hope that it was to bring it under the influence of the gospel. Of this I think there can be but little doubt. There are other European powers equally brave and intelligent and desirous of extending their dominions; why then has God put this country under the influence of ours which is so far distant? There can be surely no other reason, but because our country has been the foremost in spreading the gospel. Consider again, when was it put under our government? At the very time when a missionary spirit was spreading itself among our churches. Do we not see in this the finger of God? As God has opened to us this wide field of labour, can we avoid believing that in due time he will bestow his blessing?

I would also observe as a cause of encouragement that the people are desirous of obtaining knowledge. They had for ages remained in a slumbering state, having no wish to improve. But now, whatever may be the cause or motive, they are rousing themselves from their state of apathy and indifference; they are learning at our fountains of knowledge, which are more or less tinctured by the truths of the Bible, and even in those institutions where they are debarred from reading the sacred scriptures, they necessarily imbibe many principles and views which must tend to weaken their attachment to their religion and lead them to see its vanity. It is a fact that even now their attachment to their superstitions is on the wane, that numbers are indifferent about them, and adhere to them merely from the fear of losing caste. A few years ago the bráhmans, to support their tottering superstitions, formed a society called the Dharma Shabhá; it flourished for a time, but has now almost lost its influence. That the gospel is silently making its way amongst the people we may justly infer from this fact, that though the gospel

has been preached here for years, and is therefore to most of them, no longer an object of curiosity, yet the congregations are not decreasing. We have now more places of worship, they are more frequently opened, yet the people attend equally as well; in many instances, the people attend with seriousness and seem to feel interested. The objections which many now make, shew that they have read our tracts and the portions of scriptures put into their hands. Are not these causes of encouragement ? We have not indeed either many or such converts as we would wish; but still some of them are decidedly pious and shew that the grace of God has converted them. Let us then take encouragement from these things and from the promises of God, and let us say to each other, "Let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not."

Amen.

II. Comparison of Asiatic Languages.

We have been favoured with the following columns of Chinese and Japanese words corresponding to those contained in the tabular view of the comparison of Eastern languages in our No. for January last and present it with satisfaction to our readers.

There were two other columns in Mr. W.'s communication, containing the sixty words in the several characters; viz. the Kátákáná and Hirákáná which the want of type for their exhibition has obliged us to exclude.-ED.

DEAR SIR,

To the Editor of the Calcutta Christian Observer.

Having been favoured with the perusal of the number of C. C. O. for January 1838, I have looked over the article on a comparison of various Asiatic Languages with much interest. The plan if carried out, will be likely to afford data from which important and interesting inferences can be legitimately drawn.

In the column for Japanese, however, I think you will be a little misled by your authority not attending very strictly to the rules of pronunciation and spelling which you have laid down, and I have ventured to send a column of the words, in order that a comparison may be made from the true sounds of the Japanese, accompanied by two modes of writing most in use. The vowel sounds to the letters of their alphabet are quite uniform; but by elision for the sake of euphony, the number of vowel sounds is greatly increased. I should think that few Asiatic languages could be more perfectly reduced to the Romanizing system than the Japanese, and that there were few people in Asia who would be less inclined to adopt that system than that people.

When Mr. G. says, "that the Chinese character is universally read among the natives with a different sound and accent, more full and euphonical," he perhaps wishes to express that the Chinese character is VII.

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