and the preacher received, in return, the tribute of their applause and esteem. But this was all the fruit which he reaped from his labour.

But an entire change soon took place in bis religious views and feelings, the effect of which was sensibly manifested in his Ministry. The immediate circumstances attending this change cannot now be very accurately ascertained. It was effected, however, chiefly by the blessing of God on the study and meditation of His Word. Of this change, the preacher of his funeral Sermon, the Rev. Archibald Jack, of Whitehaven, says--

From the time that it took place, he appeared a new man,-the firm, devoted Minister of Christ. His change of sentiments presented the duties of his station in a new light; and drew toward the performance of them every energy of his mind. He served God with his spirit in the Gospel of his Son.

Mr. Hough adds--

After he had become personally acquainted with the natural alienation of the heart from God, and the necessity of that alienation being removed before we can render unto God a reasonable and acceptable service, a remarkable change took place in his pulpit exhortations. He had learned that the only effectual way of enforcing moral duties in all their branches was to proclaim Christ-and Him crucified, to take away both the guilt and the power of sin. This he had now been taught was the only means of subduing the corrupt propensities of the heart, of reducing it to subjection under the law of love, and of producing that new obedience which the Gospel requires, and which springs as a natural result from true faith in the Redeemer.

His great theme now became the love of God in Christ Jesus; desiring that all around him should feel and enjoy that love which was shed abroad in his own heart by the Holy Ghost.

Proceeds as Chaplain to India.

Mr. Church's good wishes and exertions were now no longer confined to his own parishioners. He now felt deeply interested in the universal diffusion of the Gospel; and became a zealous friend of the British and Foreign Bible Society, which he once strenuously opposed.

In this state of mind, Mr. Church accepted an appointment to a Chaplaincy on the Madras Establishment, and sailed for his destination in January, 1817. Arriving, with his wife and child, at Madras on the 21st of June, after a passage of unusual length, he was heartily welcomed and hospitably entertained

by the Rev. Marmaduke Thompson, one of the Chap. lains at the presidency.

His labours at Cuddalore.

No regular station being vacant, Mr. Church was placed, as a temporary appointment, at Cuddalore, about 100 miles south of Madras. He entered on its duties in September, 1817, and remained there till February, 1813. He bad here the charge of about 20 Europeans, and between 40 and 30 European Pensioners who had been disabled in the company's service. Among these he laboured with assiduity and Of his efforts for the native population, many thousands of whom were around him, he wrote a few months after he had been at the station--

success.

I have opened two schools for them, in which are now about 120 boys. In one school English is taught, in the other Malabar (Tamul.) These schools are chiefly under the superintendence of a native Christian-a Malabar of high caste. He has been much delighted with my coming to Cuddalore, and has been indefatigable in getting forward the schools. Though a Christian, his conduct is such that he is much respected by the natives, and hence becomes a very useful man to me.

Thus privileged, and I may say, blessed on every side, how thankful should I be! These schools Mr. Church supported at his own expense. Of the scholars he says--

They all seem anxious to learn, and thankful for the opportunity afforded them. Mr. Hough remarks on this fact--

.

Hence it appears how soon he had obtained the confidence and esteem of the natives: for until this point is gained, they are very backward in attending schools instituted by an European, in which, the Scriptures are read; but when they feel persuaded that he is a good man, and has no object in view but their advantage, their prejudices give way, and they receive his instructions with little or no scruple.

Of Mr. Church's success at this first station, Mr. Hough says--

Before he had been twelve months at Cuddalore, he had the satisfaction of witnessing a striking improvement-not only in some of the Europeans, all of whom now attended divine service on Sunday, and many at a Wednesday-evening service: but also in the pensioners. His schools too continued to flourish, and he began to feel at home, and to take pleasure in the study of Tamul.

How warmly he anticipated the pleasure of preaching to the people in their own tongue, will be seen from the following extract--

I have made some progress in the native language. I have read St. John's Gospel in it, and am now busy with the Acts of the Apostles. What if I should be able to declare to the heathen in their own tongue the wonderful things of God!

But in the midst of these labours, Mr. Church was called to exchange his Station. On this subject, Mr. Hough writes--

While his prospects of success were thus brightening, he was appointed to Vizagapatam, a regular station, which had become vacant. Thus were his labours interrupted: and his designs for the natives, so judicious ly and successfully commenced, in danger of proving abortive, while his knowledge of Tamul would be of no service at his new station; yet he could say

After labouring more than a year at the Tamul, and reading in it the chief part of the New Testament, I must begin with the Teloogoo. This is somewhat discouraging --but the will of the Lord be done.

His labours at Vizagapatam.

At this place Mr. Church arrived in March 1819, and continued there till March 1820. Of his labours at this Station Mr. Hough thus writes--

This is a large civil and military station, situated on the coast, about 600 miles north of Cuddalore, and nearly equidistant from Calcutta and Madras. Here also he had two separate congregations: one composed of the military within the fort, and the other of the civilians about four miles distant. The civilians consisted of about twelve families; the military were about 500, chiefly veterans and invalids; "sunk," as he stated, "almost all of them, through drunkenness and idleness, and the debilitating effects of the climate, far below the heathen around them." But it was from among these very men that he gathered the richest fruit of his labours. Several abandoned and profligate men, who seemed on his arrival to be lost to all sense of shame, soon felt the power of the Divine Word-became truly penitent --renounced their sins-and turned unto God, seeking his mercy, and the salvation of their souls, through the Lord Jesus Christ.

The official duties of this station occupied a great portion of Mr. Church's time: but so ardent was his desire to preach to the natives also, that he sat down to the study of Teloogoo with closer attention, if possible, than he had paid to Tamul.

As he found the place pre-occupied by the London Missionary Society, he postponed the establishment of native schools, until he should become better acquainted with the necessities of the inhabi

tants; but he opened an English school without delay, for the benefit of countryborn children, at the expense of the Church Missionary Society. In this school between forty and fifty scholars were instructed, and their progress gave the highest satisfaction.

Removal to Madras.

But while he was thus labouring for the spiritual good of all around him, he was again interrupted: for before he had been twelve months at Vizagapatam, he was appointed to labour at the Presidency.

The Rev. Marmaduke Thompson, being under the necessity of returning to Europe for the recovery of his health, was anxious that Mr. Church should succeed him in the superintendence of those religious and benevolent institutions over which he presided; and as the Chaplain of the BlackTown Chapel was to be appointed to the station which Mr. Thompson was about to vacate at St. George's church, he used his interest to have Mr. Church appointed to the chapel which would then be unoccu pied.

Desirous as Mr. Church was to preach the Word of God to the heathen,and having a second time nearly qualified himself for the important work by studying the language spoken at his station, he felt some disappointment at this second interruption of his labours; but was too well satisfied of the superior importance of the duties which would devolve on him at Madras, not to accede, without hesitation, to the wish of his friends for his removal thither.

On his arrival at the Presidency, he entered without delay on his duties; and preached on the following Sunday, at the Black-Town chapel, to a very crowded and attentive congregation. It consisted chiefly of country-born families, for whose accommodation the chapel was built. But his known piety and talents as a preacher attracted many Europeans of the first respectability at Madras, who continued to attend his ministry as long as he remained in India.

With much official duty on his hands, he yet found time for every work which had for its object the promotion of the glory of God, and the happiness of man.

Immediately on his arrival at the Presi dency, he undertook the office of Secretary to the Madras corresponding Committee of the Church Missionary Society; and long will the gentlemen who composed that Committee remember the lively interest which he took in the Society's objects, the sober judgment with which he delivered his sentiments on the topics discussed, the humility and candour with which he listened to the opinions of others, the affection

always expressed by him toward the Missionaries under their direction, and in fine, the prompt and judicious manner in which be discharged the arduous and important duties of his office.

Several of the Europeans at Madras were accustomed to meet together weekly for the purpose of reading the Scriptures and joining in social worship. Mr. Church willingly accepted the invitation to conduct the service at these meetings; his expositions of Scripture, on these occasions, were peculiarly edifying. Much as his public preaching was esteemed, yet the familiar expounding of Scripture seemed to be his favourite exercise. He did not depend, in these expositions, on the thoughts which might arise at the moment, but always studied his subject; and he took such a comprehensive and practical view of the Sacred Volume, that he at once riveted the attention, and engaged the affections of his hearers. Various persons, who came at first out of curiosity, repeated their visits from better motives, and departed with an evident blessing.

Several young men were first awakened to a serious concern for themselves, at the social meetings where he officiated; and carried with them, to various stations in the interior, those sacred principles of action, to which they had hitherto been strangers and who can calculate to what extent they may thus prove blessings to the Heathen around them! Religious persons are much more respected by the Hindoos, than those of the opposite character. So far are the natives from taking alarm at an European's attention to his devotions, or from being provoked thereby to pay him less regard, that this is the most effectual means of securing their esteem. While they crouch at the feet of an irreligious person, and, from some interested motive, court his favour, they will despise him in their hearts. Though most immoral themselves, yet they are taught from their infancy to revere a devout man; and if there are any Europeans in India who really possess the confidence and esteem of the Natives, they are the men whose actions prove them to be Christians, not in name only, but in reality. Since, then, the affection of people for their rulers is the best security for the continuance of their loyalty, such persons, instead of endangering, give stability to our Eastern Empire; and when Christianity comes to be recommended to those who have had already so fair an example of its moral influence exhibited before their eyes, they will be much better disposed to regard its injunctions and embrace its doctrines, than others of their countrymren, who, viewing our Sacred Religion

only through the polluted medium of the conduct of its faithless professors, have ever been accustomed to spurn it from them with

scorn.

Shortly after Mr. Church's arrival at Madras, he proposed the establishment of an Auxiliary Bible Society. Not that the importance of this Institution had been disregarded, or its interests neglected, at that Presidency; for its friends there were numerous, and contributions to its funds were raised to a considerable amount: but objections had hitherto existed to the formation of an Auxiliary. Those objections were now, in a great measure, removed; and Mr. Church's proposition was received, and the Society formed under the happiest auspices. He was unremitting in his attention to the business of the Society; and was seldom absent from the Meetings of the Committee. He acted like one who was resolved on redeeming his pledge to promote the objects of the Bible Society, with as much zeal as he had formerly shown in opposing them.

While thus assiduously occupied in his multiplied and continually increasing avocations, a circumstance occurred, which afforded him additional evidence that his labours at Vizagapatam, though unexpectedly interrupted, had not been in vain. He visited Poonamallee, a military cantonment about 15 miles from Madras, where the King's troops are quartered, on their arrival, until sent off to their respective regiments in the interior, or while waiting to embark on their return to Europe. At this Station there is an extensive Asylum for the Orphans of English Soldiers, to see which was the principal object of Mr. Church's visit. He viewed the Church also; and was no less surprised than gratified to find three Soldiers in the Vestry, praying together, whom he recognised as having been among his most attentive hearers at his last Station. The barracks at Poonamallee presented a scene of such iniquity, that they could enjoy no Christian Communion there, much less unite in reading the Scriptures and in prayer, without continual interruption: they had obtained permission, therefore, to retire to the Vestry of the Church; and met there regularly for mutual edification.

Mr. Church's health, during his residence in India had hitherto been seldom interrupted; but he was now visited with a disease which soon reduced him to such a state of debility, that he was under the necessity of relaxing his exertions. His constitution was never strong; and the anxiety and fatigue, night and day, through which he had passed during some family afflictions, seemed to have shaken his whole