the life of william carey-第15章
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the existence of the obscure vagrant； as he seemed； although he was hard at work。 All around him was a Mohammedan community whom he addressed with the greatest freedom； and with whom he discussed the relative merits of the Koran and the Bible in a kindly spirit； 〃to recommend the Gospel and the way of life by Christ。〃 He had helped Thomas with a translation of the book of Genesis during the voyage； and now we find this in his journal two months and a half after he had landed：
〃Through the delays of my companion I have spent another month； and done scarcely anything； except that I have added to my knowledge of the language； and had opportunity of seeing much more of the genius and disposition of the natives than I otherwise could have known。 This day finished the correction of the first chapter of Genesis； which moonshi says is rendered into very good Bengali。 Just as we had finished it； a pundit and another man from Nuddea came to see me。 I showed it to them； and the pundit seemed much pleased with the account of the creation； only they have an imaginary place somewhere beneath the earth； and he thought that should have been mentioned likewise。。。
〃Was very weary； having walked in the sun about fifteen or sixteen miles； yet had the satisfaction of discoursing with some money…changers at Calcutta； who could speak English； about the importance and absolute necessity of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ。 One of them was a very crafty man； and tried much to entangle me with hard questions； but at last； finding himself entangled； he desisted； and went to his old occupation of money…changing again。 If once God would by his Spirit convince them of sin； a Saviour would be a blessing indeed to them： but human nature is the same all the world over； and all conviction fails except it is produced by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit。〃
Ram Basu was himself in debt； was indeed all along a self…interested inquirer。 But the next gleam of hope came from him； that the Carey family should move to the waste jungles of the Soondarbans； the tiger…haunted swamps south…east of Calcutta； and there cultivate a grant of land。 With a sum of ？6 borrowed from a native at twelve per cent。 by Mr。 Thomas； a boat was hired； and on the fourth day； when only one more meal remained； the miserable family and their stout…hearted father saw an English…built house。 As they walked up to it the owner met them； and with Anglo…Indian hospitality invited them all to become his guests。 He proved to be Mr。 Charles Short； in charge of the Company's salt manufacture there。 As a deist he had no sympathy with Carey's enterprise； but he helped the missionary none the less； and the reward came to him in due time in the opening of his heart to the love of Christ。 He afterwards married Mrs。 Carey's sister； and in England the two survived the great missionary； to tell this and much more regarding him。 Here； at the place appropriately named Hasnabad； or the 〃smiling spot；〃 Carey took a few acres on the Jamoona arm of the united Ganges and Brahmapootra； and built him a bamboo house； forty miles east of Calcutta。 Knowing that the sahib's gun would keep off the tigers； natives squatted around to the number of three or four thousand。 Such was the faith； the industry； and the modesty of the brave little man that； after just three months； he wrote thus：〃When I know the language well enough to preach in it； I have no doubt of having a stated congregation； and I much hope to send you pleasing accounts。 I can so far converse in the language as to be understood in most things belonging to eating and drinking； buying and selling； etc。 My ear is somewhat familiarised to the Bengali sounds。 It is a language of a very singular construction； having no plural except for pronouns； and not a single preposition in it： but the cases of nouns and pronouns are almost endless； all the words answering to our prepositions being put after the word； and forming a new case。 Except these singularities； I find it an easy language。 I feel myself happy in my present undertaking； for； though I never felt the loss of social religion so much as now； yet a consciousness of having given up all for God is a support； and the work； with all its attendant inconveniences； is to me a rich reward。 I think the Society would do well to keep their eye towards Africa or Asia； countries which are not like the wilds of America； where long labour will scarcely collect sixty people to hear the Word： for here it is almost impossible to get out of the way of hundreds； and preachers are wanted a thousand times more than people to preach to。 Within India are the Maratha country and the northern parts to Cashmere； in which； as far as I can learn； there is not one soul that thinks of God aright。。。My health was never better。 The climate； though hot； is tolerable； but； attended as I am with difficulties； I would not renounce my undertaking for all the world。〃
It was at this time that he drew his strength often from the experience of the first missionary； described by Isaiah； in all his solitude：〃Look unto Abraham your father； for I called him alone and blessed him and increased him。 For the Lord shall comfort Zion； He will comfort all her waste places。〃 The sun of His comfort shone forth at last。
Carey's original intention to begin his mission near Malda was now to be carried out。 In the opening week of 1794 the small English community in Bengal were saddened by the news that； when crossing the Hoogli at Calcutta； a boat containing three of its principal merchants and the wife of one of them； had been upset； and all had been drowned。 It turned out that two of the men recovered； but Mr。 R。 Udny and his young wife perished。 His aged mother had been one of the godly circle in the Residency at Malda to whom Thomas had ministered； and Mr。 G。 Udny； her other son； was still the Company's commercial Resident there。 A letter of sympathy which Thomas sent to them restored the old relations； and resulted in Mr。 G。 Udny inviting first the writer and then Carey to become his assistants in charge of new indigo factories which he was building on his own account。 Each received a salary equivalent to ？50 a year； with the prospect of a commission on the out…turn； and even a proprietary share。 Carey's remark in his journal on the day he received the offer was：〃This appearing to be a remarkable opening in divine providence for our comfortable support； I accepted it。。。I shall likewise be joined with my colleague again； and we shall unitedly engage in our work。〃 Again：〃The conversion of the heathen is the object which above all others I wish to pursue。 If my situation at Malda should be tolerable； I most certainly will publish the Bible in numbers。〃 On receiving the rejoinder to his acceptance of the offer he set this down：〃I am resolved to write to the Society that my circumstances are such that I do not need future help from them； and to devote a sum monthly for the printing of the Bengali Bible。〃 This he did； adding that it would be his glory and joy to stand in the same relation to the Society as if he needed support from them。 He hoped they would be the sooner able to send another mission somewhereto Sumatra or some of the Indian Islands。 From the first he lived with such simplicity that he gave from one…fourth to one…third of his little income to his own mission at Mudnabati。
Carey thus sums up his first year's experience before leaving his jungle home on a three weeks' voyage up the Ganges； and records his first deliberate and regular attempt to preach in Bengali on the way。
〃8th April 1794。All my hope is in； and all my comfort arises from； God； without His power no European could possibly be converted； and His power can convert any Indian； and when I reflect that He has stirred me up to the work； and wrought wonders to prepare the way； I can hope in His promises； and am encouraged and strengthened。。。
〃19th April。O how glorious are the ways of God！ 'My soul longeth and fainteth for God； for the living God； to see His glory and beauty as I have seen them in the sanctuary。' When I first left England； my hope of the conversion of the heathen was very strong； but； among so many obstacles； it would entirely die away unless upheld by God。 Nothing to exercise it； but plenty to obstruct it； for now a year and nineteen days； which is the space since I left my dear charge at Leicester。 Since that I have had hurrying up and down； a five months' imprisonment with carnal men on board the ship； five more learning the language； my moonshi not understanding English sufficiently to interpret my preaching； my colleague separated from me； long delays and few opportunities for social worship； no woods to retire to； like Brainerd； for fear of tigers （no less than twenty men in the department of Deharta； where I am； have been carried away by them this season from the salt…works）； no earthly thing to depend upon； or earthly comfort； except food and raiment。 Well； I have God； and His Word is sure； and though the superstitions of the heathen were a million times worse than they are； if I were deserted by all； and persecuted by all； yet my hope； fixed on that sure Word； will rise superior to all obstructions； and triumph over all trials。 God's cause will triumph； and I shall come out of all trials as gold purified by fire。 I was much humbled to…day by reading Brainerd。 O what a disparity betwixt me and him； he always constant； I as inconstant as the wind！
〃22nd April。Bless God for a continuance of the happy frame of yesterday。 I think the hope of soon acquiring the language puts fresh life into my soul； for a long time my mouth has been shut； and my days have been beclouded with heaviness； but now I begin to be something like a traveller who has been almost beaten out in a violent storm； and who； with all his clothes about him dripping wet； sees the sky begin to clear： so I； with only the prospect of a more pleasant season at hand； scarcely feel the sorrows of the present。
〃23rd。With all the cares of life； and all its sorrows； yet I find that a life of communion with God is sufficient to yield consolation in the midst of all； and even to produce a holy joy in the soul； which shall make it to triumph over all affliction。 I have never yet repented of any sacrifice that I have made for the Gospel； but find that consolation of mind which can come from God alone。
〃26th May。This day kept Sabbath at Chandureea； had a pleasant day。 In the morning and afternoon addressed my family； and in the evening began my work of publishing the Word of God to the heathen。 Though imperfect in the knowledge of the language； yet； with the help of moonshi； I conversed with two Brahmans in the presence of about two hundred people； about the things of God。 I had been to see a temple； in which were the images of Dukkinroy； the god of the woods； riding on a tiger； Sheetulla； goddess of the smallpox； without a head； riding on a horse without a head； Punchanon； with large ears； and Colloroy； riding on a horse。 In another apartment was Seeb； which was only a smooth post of wood； with two or three mouldings in it； like the base of a Tuscan pillar。 I therefore discoursed with them upon the vanity of idols； the folly and wickedness of idolatry； the nature and at
