the life of william carey-第14章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
en； among whom it was an object 〃worthy of the most ardent and persevering pursuit to disseminate the humane and saving principles of the Christian Religion。〃 If this Mr。 Thomas were worthy； his experience made it desirable to begin with Bengal。 Thomas answered for himself at the next meeting； when Carey fell upon his neck and wept； having previously preached from the words〃Behold I come quickly； and My reward is with Me。〃 〃We saw；〃 said Fuller afterwards； 〃there was a gold mine in India； but it was as deep as the centre of the earth。 Who will venture to explore it？ 'I will venture to go down；' said Carey； 'but remember that you （addressing Fuller； Sutcliff； and Ryland） must hold the ropes。' We solemnly engaged to him to do so； nor while we live shall we desert him。〃
Carey and Thomas； an ordained minister and a medical evangelist； were at this meeting in Kettering； on 10th January 1793； appointed missionaries to 〃the East Indies for preaching the gospel to the heathen；〃 on 〃？00 or ？50 a year between them all；〃that is； for two missionaries； their wives； and four children；until they should be able to support themselves like the Moravians。 As a matter of fact they received just ？00 in all for the first three years when self…support and mission extension fairly began。 The whole sum at credit of the Society for outfit； passage； and salaries was ？30； so that Fuller's prudence was not without justification when supported by Thomas's assurances that the amount was enough； and Carey's modest self…sacrifice。 〃We advised Mr。 Carey；〃 wrote Fuller to Ryland； 〃to give up his school this quarter； for we must make up the loss to him。〃 The more serious cost of the passage was raised by Fuller and by the preaching tours of the two missionaries。 During one of these； at Hull； Carey met the printer and newspaper editor； William Ward； and cast his mantle over him thus〃If the Lord bless us； we shall want a person of your business to enable us to print the Scriptures； I hope you will come after us。〃 Ward did so in five years。
The 20th March 1793 was a high day in the Leicester chapel； Harvey Lane； when the missionaries were set apart like Barnabas and Paula forenoon of prayer； an afternoon of preaching by Thomas from Psalm xvi。 4； 〃Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another God；〃 an evening of preaching by the treasurer from Acts xxi。 14； 〃And when he would not be persuaded； we ceased； saying； the will of the Lord be done；〃 and the parting charge by Fuller the secretary； from the risen Lord's own benediction and forthsending of His disciples； 〃Peace be unto you； as My Father hath sent Me； even so send I you。〃 Often in after days of solitude and reproach did Carey quicken his faith by reading the brave and loving words of Fuller on 〃the objects you must keep in view； the directions you must observe； the difficulties you must encounter； the reward you may expect。〃
Under date four days after we find this entry in the Church Book〃Mr。 Carey； our minister； left Leicester to go on a mission to the East Indies； to take and propagate the Gospel among those idolatrous and superstitious heathens。 This is inserted to show his love to his poor miserable fellow…creatures。 In this we concurred with him； though it is at the expense of losing one whom we love as our own souls。〃 When Carey's preaching had so filled the church that it became necessary to build a front gallery at a cost of ？8； and they had applied to several other churches for assistance in vain； he thus taught them to help themselves。 The minister and many of the members agreed to pay off the debt 〃among ourselves〃 by weekly subscriptions；a process； however； which covered five years； so poor were they。 Carey left this as a parting lesson to home congregations； while his people found it the easier to pay the debt that they had sacrificed their best； their own minister； to the work of missions for which he had taught them to pray。
John Thomas； four years older than Carey； was a surgeon； who had made two voyages to Calcutta in the Oxford Indiaman； had been of spiritual service to Charles Grant； Mr。 George Udny； and the Bengal civilian circle at Malda； and had been supported by Mr。 Grant as a missionary for a time until his eccentricities and debts outraged his friends and drove him home at the time of the Kettering meetings。 Full justice has been done to a character and a career somewhat resembling those of John Newton； by his patient and able biographer the Rev。 C。 B。 Lewis。 John Thomas has the merit of being the first medical missionary； at a time when no other Englishman cared for either the bodies or souls of our recently acquired subjects in North India； outside of Charles Grant's circle。 He has more； he was used by God to direct Carey to the dense Hindoo population of Bengalto the people and to the centre； that is； where Brahmanism had its seat； and whence Buddhism had been carried by thousands of missionaries all over Southern； Eastern； and Central Asia。 But there our ascription of merit to Thomas must stop。 However well he might speak the uncultured Bengali； he never could write the language or translate the Bible into a literary style so that it could be understood by the people or influence their leaders。 His temper kept Charles Grant back from helping the infant mission； though anxious to see Mr。 Carey and to aid him and any other companion。 The debts of Thomas caused him and Carey to be excluded from the Oxford； in which his friend the commander had agreed to take them and their party without a licence； clouded the early years of the enterprise with their shadow； and formed the heaviest of the many burdens Carey had to bear at starting。 If； afterwards； the old association of Thomas with Mr。 Udny at Malda gave Carey a home during his Indian apprenticeship； this was a small atonement for the loss of the direct help of Mr。 Grant。 If Carey proved to be the John among the men who began to make Serampore illustrious； Thomas was the Peter； so far as we know Peter in the Gospels only。
Just before being ejected from the Oxford； as he had been deprived of the effectual help of Charles Grant through his unhappy companion； when with only his eldest son Felix beside him； how did Carey view his God…given mission？ The very different nature of his wife； who had announced to him the birth of a child； clung anew to the hope that this might cause him to turn back。 Writing from Ryde on the 6th May he thus replied with sweet delicacy of human affection； but with true loyalty to his Master's call：
〃Received yours； giving me an account of your safe delivery。 This is pleasant news indeed to me； surely goodness and mercy follow me all my days。 My stay here was very painful and unpleasant； but now I see the goodness of God in it。 It was that I might hear the most pleasing accounts that I possibly could hear respecting earthly things。 You wish to know in what state my mind is。 I answer； it is much as when I left you。 If I had all the world； I would freely give it all to have you and my dear children with me； but the sense of duty is so strong as to overpower all other considerations； I could not turn back without guilt on my soul。 I find a longing desire to enjoy more of God； but； now I am among the people of the world； I think I see more beauties in godliness than ever； and； I hope； enjoy more of God in retirement than I have done for some time past。。。You want to know what Mrs。 Thomas thinks； and how she likes the voyage。。。She would rather stay in England than go to India； but thinks it right to go with her husband。。。Tell my dear children I love them dearly； and pray for them constantly。 Felix sends his love。 I look upon this mercy as an answer to prayer indeed。 Trust in God。 Love to Kitty； brothers； sisters； etc。 Be assured I love you most affectionately。 Let me know my dear little child's name。I am； for ever； your faithful and affectionate husband；
〃WILLIAM CAREY。
〃My health never was so well。 I believe the sea makes Felix and me both as hungry as hunters。 I can eat a monstrous meat supper； and drink a couple of glasses of wine after it； without hurting me at all。 Farewell。〃
She was woman and wife enough； in the end； to do as Mrs。 Thomas had d
