anity. Let the Bible, or some evangelical treatise, or formula of catechetical instruction, be the manual of education, in the native tongue or in English; and let pupils be encouraged to attend, not only by the high views suggested by religion, and the ordinary gratifications attendant upon the acquisition of knowledge, but by the prospect of promotion, civil or literary. Accordingly, let those who excel be advanced to be teachers themselves, and secured, during their good behaviour, in a salary, which, while it cannot operate as a temptation to hypocrisy in assuming a religious profession, may yet be competent to their decent support. To these preparatory arrangements another may be add- Number and ed. Besides stationary teachers, itinerant catechists and missionaries will be required. What number of the latter might be necessary cannot be easily determined; but it may be suspected, that, when it is presumed twelve or twenty would be sufficient to perambulate all Hindostan once or twice every year*, the computation is too low, especially considering the great extension of British territory by the late conquests. At present, the full complement of chaplains for the establishment of the East India Company is * Bapt. Mag. vol. i. p. 329. only nine: the actual number usually five or six. Three are stationed at the respective presidencies: the rest, scattered over a vast tract of country, enervated by the climate, discouraged by the forbidding aspect of an unyielding superstition, are seldom seen, scarcely ever deliver a sermon to the natives, and are not easily obtained to officiate at the usual solemnities of religion*. If the suggestion be true, that they are not always men of the most exemplary conduct, and too often tainted with sinful conformity to the spirit and manners of gay life, it will easily be perceived how inadequate and inefficient, not to say adverse, to the promotion of Christianity in India, such a system must prove. In general it may be remarked, that there will be no necessity for circumscribing the number of itinerant missionaries, as the sphere of their ministry can easily be contracted according to their increase, and the application of their labours more and more concentrated, until they become stationary in a particular charge. Of far more importance it must be to secure a conformity of principles, of spirit, of views, and of character, to their high trust, and sacred function. It is presumed, from the design itself, that none * Tenn. Ind. Rec. vol. i. pp. 96, 97. ; -a missionaries, who do not believe and profess their resolution to teach character of "all things whatsoever Christ has commanded;"-that none who do not appear to possess a simplicity of heart to relish the words of "the truth as it is in Jesus," and give evidence, by a suitable deportment, that they have feltthe power of the Gospel, and submit to the laws of Christianity from a cordial attachment to our holy religion, ought to be employed in this holy, evangelical enterprise. A lively and active spirit of vital religion, accompanied with a competent knowledge of evangelical truth warm sensibility of soul to the best interests of mankind, especially to the state of the poor, perishing Hindoos ;knowledge of human nature and of the living world, or at least that natural acuteness which readily enters into character, and quickly suggests what is fit to be spoken and done, in every varied circumstance of human intercourse; -courage to brave danger, accompanied with prudence, which does not unnecessarily provoke trials;-that self-denial, which is satisfied with little, and is willing, perhaps has been trained in the school of adversity, to submit to the disposals of Providence ;-that enterprise of spirit, which incites to action, united with that perseverance, which is not soon cooled or overcome;-and that lowliness of mind, Mode of instruction. which inclines the person both to think meanly of his attainments, and to submit cheerfully to whatever is necessary for his information and improvement; in short, piety, missionary zeal, firmness, prudence, and docility, will appear desirable requisites*. To crown all, an evangelical missionary must resemble, as much as possible, the lowly and lovely Jesus, forming himself, in spirit and manners, upon this most illustrious Model, and copying, in his ministry, the heavenly instructions of the great Apostle and HighPriest of our professión. By what means he shall introduce and recommend himself and his message to the unenlightened and preoccupied natives, must be left, in a great measure, to casual occurrences and Christian discretion. That aptitude to teach, which can readily seize upon circumstances, and insinuate itself, unawares, into the subject and the hearts of the hearers, will be an invaluable talent. The formal, didactic mode of instruction seems altogether unsuitable: the colloquial and the Socratic are far better adapted, both to strike and to persuade. Never, however, must he forget the dignity of his Master, the purity of his doctrines and laws, the *The above delineation was copied, amid the hurry of composition, from a circular Letter of the Glasgow Missionary Society; nor does it appear expedient or necessary now to alter it. grand object of his mission. His directory, both for his personal conduct and public ministry, is given with much brevity, but with admirable precision, by the great apostle of the Gentiles: "Thou, O man of God, flee youthful lusts, but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace with them that call on the Lord, out of a pure heart. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of God must not strive, but be gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure may give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." Beautiful, also, is the portrait drawn by Cowper: There stands the messenger of truth, there stands The legate of the skies: his theme divine, His office sacred; his credentials clear. By him the violated law speaks out In thunders; and by him, in strains as sweet As angels use, the Gospel whispers peace. 2 E |