siege by the French Army, sufficiently proves that the Jesuits would have experienced no diminution in the esteem of the Natives towards them, after the European Invasion, had they uniformly acted in a manner becoming Christian Teachers.

After all, however, if we inquire into the expedients used by the Roman-Catholic Missionaries to preserve Christianity among their Converts, its decline will be found to have arisen more from their own negligence, than from any other cause: for it requires as much care, if not more, to cherish a love and reverence for the Gospel, as to produce it.

66

They withhold from their Converts the Word of God! This is the Charter of our Faith and Privileges-the only " lamp to our feet, and light to our paths," to guide us, through the darkness, and across the devious ways of ignorance and vice, to the Kingdom of Glory. For this infallible guide, they substitute Images, Pictures, and unintelligible Ceremonies. M. Dubois denies" that the reading of the Holy Scriptures is forbidden to Catholics:" (p. 27.) I will only reply, that I frequently offered to supply them, through their Priests, with the New Testament; but have never been permitted. I have often left a Testament with the Catechist of a

H

Roman-Catholic Church in the Interior, which the Priest has afterwards ordered to be returned. I have never heard of a Translation of the Scriptures by the Jesuits into any of the Indian Languages; nor have I ever seen a New Testament in the possession of even one of their Catechists, unless it were one that he had received privately from some Protestant Missionary, and which he kept carefully concealed from the Priest. A Tamul Book, written by a Roman-Catholic Priest, was once brought to me, to answer. The Author defends the Worship of Images, upon the plea, that Images and Pictures are books for the Illiterate. All question, then, about the corruption of Christianity by the Papists apart-had the Almighty prospered the labours of the Jesuits in India, He would, contrary to His avowed determination, have given His glory to another, and His praise to Graven Images: (Isaiah xlii. 8.) The Abbé Dubois glories in their policy, though it has failed: we may easily suppose, then, how he would have triumphed, had it succeeded. The vindication of His own honour, therefore, required that Jehovah should withhold His blessing from them, and confound their devices: (1 Cor. i. 25-31.)

To substitute Images, &c. for the Scrip

tures, is an imposition upon the human mind: it is denying to man that instruction which God has expressly revealed, for the purpose of teaching us the knowledge of Himself and His gracious will. I am aware that M. Dubois asserts the incapacity of their Converts to understand the Word of God. "I have now under my religious controul," he says, "between 7000 and 8000 persons of this description; and I should be very much perplexed, indeed, were I, among so large a number, desired to point out four Individuals capable of understanding the meaning of the Bible, and to whom the reading of the naked Text of the Holy Scriptures would prove of the least utility:" (p. 125.)-And is this an argument for withholding the Blessed Book from them? To a man inspired with a moderate portion of love for the souls of his fellow-men, it will dictate a very different mode of procedure. Stationed among persons of this description, he will feel it to be his duty to put the Bible into their hands, as soon as they can read it; directing them, at the same time, what parts to read; and carefully explaining to them all the doubts and difficulties that occur. Many Roman Catholics in Tinnevelly, to whom I had given the New Testament in Tamul, were in the constant

habit of waiting upon me, for explanation of different passages. In general, I found them much more intelligent than I had been led to expect; and the very parts at which they seemed to stumble, led to profitable discussion: and I do not recollect an instance of one departing without being satisfied. One Young Man came frequently, with a string of texts to be explained. On one occasion, he referred to Rev. xiv. I told him that the conduct of the Romish Church, her arrogance, and her persecution of the Saints for centuries past, were so accurately described in that and the xiiith Chapter, that Protestants supposed she was intended by the Beast and Babylon. He replied, that the 6th verse was now being fulfilled; for that he had heard of the Translation of the Scriptures into the Languages of almost "every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." "The consequence of this universal diffusion of the Bible," I added, "as foretold in the 8th verse, will be the fall of Babylon. When you read the Scriptures with attention and prayer, you will see that the Superstitions of your Church are contrary to the purity and simplicity of the Gospel and when God shall give you His grace, you will renounce every practice that is prohibited by His Word."-" Now

then I see," he added, 66 forbid us to read the Bible!"

why our Priests

I will give one more instance, in vindication of the Native Roman-Catholic's capacity to profit by the perusal of the Scriptures; which, at the same time, will furnish an additional proof of the intolerance of their Priests, in denying them the privilege of reading the Sacred Volume. A Young Man, educated in one of the Schools of the Church Missionary Society in Tinnevelly, wrote me the following Letter, on my leaving that district :

"Reverend Sir,

"As Providence was pleased to send you to this country, many of us are now acquainted with the everlasting Light of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; especially, I speak of myself; for before these three years, I did not know what a Testament was: but since the Tinnevelly English School was opened, I have pretty good knowledge of the Scriptures; and I hope, and wish, that all other Schools will continue to make many understand the bright paths of Religion and Holiness!

"As I hear of your departure, I am extremely sorry to say we are at a loss. I am