the life of william carey-第31章
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him。 He was thirty…five years of age。 Not only as the first native Christian of North India of whom we have a reliable account； but as the first missionary to Calcutta and Assam； and the first Bengali hymn…writer； this man deserves study。
Carey's first Hindoo convert was three years younger than himself； or about thirty…six； at baptism。 Krishna Pal； born in the neighbouring French settlement of Chandernagore； had settled in the suburbs of Serampore； where he worked as a carpenter。 Sore sickness and a sense of sin led him to join the Kharta…bhojas； one of the sects which； from the time of Gautama Buddha； and of Chaitanya； the reformer of Nuddea； to that of Nanak； founder of the Sikh brotherhood have been driven into dissent by the yoke of Brahmanism。 Generally worshippers of some form of Vishnoo； and occasionally； as in Kabeer's case； influenced by the monotheism of Islam； these sects begin by professing theism and opposition to caste； though Hindooism is elastic enough to keep them always within its pale and ultimately to absorb them again。 For sixteen years Krishna Pal was himself a gooroo of the Ghospara sect； of which from Carey's to Duff's earlier days the missionaries had a hope which proved vain。 He recovered from sickness； but could not shake off the sense of the burden of sin； when this message came to him； and； to his surprise； through the Europeans〃Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners。〃 At the same time he happened to dislocate his right arm by falling down the slippery side of his tank when about to bathe。 He sent two of the children to the Mission House for Thomas； who immediately left the breakfast table at which the brethren had just sat down； and soon reduced the luxation； while the sufferer again heard the good news that Christ was waiting to heal his soul； and he and his neighbour Gokool received a Bengali tract。 He himself thus told the story：〃In this paper I read that he who confesseth and forsaketh his sins； and trusteth in the righteousness of Christ； obtains salvation。 The next morning Mr。 Carey came to see me； and after inquiring how I was； told me to come to his house； that he would give me some medicine； by which； through the blessing of God； the pain in my arm would be removed。 I went and obtained the medicine； and through the mercy of God my arm was cured。 From this time I made a practice of calling at the mission house； where Mr。 Ward and Mr。 Felix Carey used to read and expound the Holy Bible to me。 One day Dr。 Thomas asked me whether I understood what I heard from Mr。 Ward and Mr。 Carey。 I said I understood that the Lord Jesus Christ gave his life up for the salvation of sinners； and that I believed it； and so did my friend Gokool。 Dr。 T。 said； 'Then I call you brothercome and let us eat together in love。' At this time the table was set for luncheon； and all the missionaries and their wives； and I and Gokool； sat down and ate together。〃
The servants spread the news； most horrible to the people； that the two Hindoos had 〃become Europeans；〃 and they were assaulted on their way home。 Just thirty years after； in Calcutta； the first public breach of caste by the young Brahman students of Duff raised a still greater commotion； and resulted in the first converts there。 Krishna Pal and his wife； his wife's sister and his four daughters； Gokool； his wife； and a widow of forty who lived beside them； formed the first group of Christian Hindoos of caste in India north of Madras。 Two years after Krishna Pal sent to the Society this confession of his faith。 Literally translated； it is a record of belief such as Paul himself might have written； illustrated by an apostolic life of twenty…two years。 The carpenter's confession and dedication has； in the original； an exquisite tenderness； reflected also in the hymn11 which he wrote for family worship：
〃SERAMPORE； 12th Oct。 1802。
〃To the brethren of the church of our Saviour Jesus Christ； our souls' beloved； my affectionately embracing representation。 The love of God； the gospel of Jesus Christ； was made known by holy brother Thomas。 In that day our minds were filled with joy。 Then judging； we understood that we were dwelling in darkness。 Through the door of manifestation we came to know that； sin confessing； sin forsaking； Christ's righteousness embracing； salvation would be obtained。 By light springing up in the heart； we knew that sinners becoming repentant； through the sufferings of Christ； obtain salvation。 In this rejoicing； and in Christ's love believing； I obtained mercy。 Now it is in my mind continually to dwell in the love of Christ： this is the desire of my soul。 Do you； holy people； pour down love upon us； that as the chatookee we may be satisfied。12 I was the vilest of sinners： He hath saved me。 Now this word I will tell to the world。 Going forth； I will proclaim the love of Christ with rejoicing。 To sinners I will say this word： Here sinner； brother！ Without Christ there is no help。 Christ； the world to save； gave his own soul！ Such love was never heard： for enemies Christ gave his own soul！ Such compassion； where shall we get？ For the sake of saving sinners he forsook the happiness of heaven。 I will constantly stay near him。 Being awakened by this news； I will constantly dwell in the town of joy。 In the Holy Spirit I will live： yet in Christ's sorrow I will be sorrowful。 I will dwell along with happiness； continually meditating on this；Christ will save the world！ In Christ not taking refuge； there is no other way of life。 I was indeed a sinner； praise not knowing。This is the representation of Christ's servant；
〃KRISTNO。〃
Such is the first epistle of the Church of India。 Thus the first medical missionary had his reward； but the joy proved to be too much for him。 When Carey led Krishna and his own son Felix down into the water of baptism the ravings of Thomas in the schoolhouse on the one side； and of Mrs。 Carey on the other； mingled with the strains of the Bengali hymn of praise。 The Mission Journal； written by Ward； tells with graphic simplicity how caste as well as idol…worship was overcome not only by the men but the women representatives of a race whom； thirty years after； Macaulay described as destitute of courage； independence； and veracity； and bold only in deceit。 Christ is changing all that。
〃Nov。 27。Krishna； the man whose arm was set； overtook Felix and me； and said he would come to our house daily for instruction； for that we had not only cured his arm； but brought him the news of salvation。。。
〃Dec。 5。Yesterday evening Gokool and Krishna prayed in my room。 This morning Gokool called upon us； and told us that his wife and two or three more of his family had left him on account of the gospel。 He had eaten of Krishna's rice； who being of another caste； Gokool had lost his。 Krishna says his wife and family are all desirous of becoming Christians。 They declare their willingness to join us； and obey all our Saviour's commands。 Gokool and his wife had a long talk； but she continued determined； and is gone to her relations。
〃Dec。 6。This morning brother Carey and I went to Krishna's house。 Everything was made very clean。 The women sat within the house； the children at the door； and Krishna and Gokool with brother Carey and I in the court。 The houses of the poor are only calculated for sleeping in。 Brother Carey talked； and the women appeared to have learned more of the gospel than we expected。 They declared for Christ at once。 This work was new； even to brother Carey。 A whole family desiring to hear the gospel； and declaring in favour of it！ Krishna's wife said she had received great joy from it。
〃Lord's…day； Dec。 7。This morning brother Carey went to Krishna's house； and spoke to a yard full of people； who heard with great attention though trembling with cold。 Brother Brunsdon is very poorly。 Krishna's wife and her sister were to have been with us in the evening； but the women have many scruples to sitting in the company of Europeans。 Some of them scarcely ever go out but to the river； and if they meet a European run away。 Sometimes when we have begun to speak in a street； some one desires us to remove to a little distance； for the women dare not come by us to
