without the intervention of man's teaching. Such, he trusted, was the conversion of Abdool Messee, a Mahomedan, whom he had the unspeakable satisfaction of baptizing, as an earnest of his countrymen, into the faith of Christ. This was nearly the closing act of his ministry.

The conversion of this disciple was the ef fect of the unassisted study of the Scriptures, as translated by the excellent Henry Martyn. Although he had attended this minister's religious instructions, and his mind was open to conviction on the superior merits of the Christian religion, so far as he could compare it with the contradictions of the different Mahomedan sects, yet it was not till he had obtained possession of Mr. Martyn's Hindostanee translation of the Word of God, and could search the Holy Scriptures for himself, that he was led to embrace the Saviour of the world.

In his conversations with intelligent Natives,. who seemed desirous of investigating Christianity (for he found in them a frequent disposition to do so in some degree) Mr. Brown was accustomed to recommend to their serious and steady attention some select portions,

of

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of the Old and New Testaments, believing that God, according to his good pleasure, would remove the barrier between him and them by the power of his Word; and he preferred conversing with them on truths whereon they were agreed, to making a direct attack on their errors by abuse or angry argument; for such a mode, he thought, only excited them to opposition; while that which he adopted, tended rather to conciliate their regards, and disposed them to a less prejudiced consideration of such subjects.

He gave his ideas on this head, founded on experience, to most Missionaries who came under his observation; and there is reason to believe that several have availed themselves of his caution, and found it of happiest effect. Nor will it be going too far, if it is added, that possibly the great spirit of successful exertion which has of late so remarkably taken place in the Missionary field, may be traced, in a measure, to his timely warning and salutary counsel on the tendency of their instructions*.

The

*On this subject, the following testimony has been borne; extracted from No. 26 of the Transactions of the Missionary Society :—

"June 23d, 1812. This day brings us the sad tidings of the death of the Rev. Mr. Brown, of Calcutta.

The Natives of India are generally impressed with a respectful sense of the great attention paid to them, by translating for their use our holy books; and such translations must be requisite for the people at large; yet a Native who understands, and can read English, (in which many of them earnestly wish to excel) is desirous of having a Bible in English.

It may then be a question, whether it might not be eminently useful to encourage the literary Asiatic, who can understand an English book, to perfect himself in that language through the medium of the Bible.

There can be little doubt, but that in most eases, he would attain at least as clear an insight into the scope and meaning of the Christian scriptures by reading the English version, as by perusing such translations as perhaps are rendered chiefly from that into the Asiatic dialects; particularly if assisted, as he proceeded, by a missionary or other

pious

"Distressing intelligence! The Church has lost a zealous "and valuable Minister, the Bible Society a strenuous "and firm supporter, and we, an excellent counsellor and "friend. We may well regret the removal of one, who, "with his influence and excellent advice, was ever ready "to assist us and our departed brethren."

pious teacher with colloquial explanations, held likewise in English.

Mr. Brown had in his employ more than one Asiatic who read the Bible in English with avidity. One of these was a Jew, who literally trembled under the Rabbinical yoke, (scarcely easier than that of the Brahmins) and who, when asked in vain to read with his young pupils the book of Daniel in Hebrew, or a Gospel in Syriac, yet would eagerly search, when unobserved, these forbidden scriptures in English.

This he possibly would have pleaded was only by way of acquiring the language; but who can tell the blessed effects which may result from perusing the Word of God, whatever be the motives which actuate the person engaged in it?

A Hindoo, who was much in the practice of copying out portions of the scriptures in English, and frequently also his sermons and those of other ministers, which Mr. Brown selected for his people's use, was remarkably observant of the subjects on which he was employed. He was so intelligent an English scholar as to make customary use of an English dictionary, and grammar, and could be trusted to correct an error of hasty orthography, punc

punctuation, or casual omission of a word. He copied also much of Mr. Brown's correspondence and other labors, for the Bible society; and was well aware of the design of that society to convey the light of christianity into the darkest corners of the earth. Though he did not acknowledge that he read the scriptures for himself, yet he could not avoid becoming acquainted in some measure with them; and he remarked with seeming concern, but with no manner of opposition, that he thought Hindooism could not continue much longer: but his mind did not appear to open to a brighter hope. Probably, had his master lived! However, such a character seems a fit subject to be assisted by any pious and judicious missionary.

Another Hindoo youth wrote a petition in English for the gift of an English Bible, speaking of it as God's blessed book of truth, and appearing to wish for it as a legacy from his late master.

Such natives as these may be said to be prepared for the instruction of missionaries on their first landing on Indian shores, wherever they can find an Asiatic who has acquired, or is desirous of perfecting himself in, the knowledge of the English tongue.