CHAP. V. Mr. Vos is banished Governor approved of their credentials, and made arrangements for their useful employment. Messrs. Vos and Read he stationed at Galle, and Mr. Ehrhardt at Matura. Not long after their arrival they were joined by Mr. and Mrs. Palm, who were received with equal kindness, and were appointed to reside at Jaffnapatam. They were thankful to Divine Providence for having placed over the island a Governor whose enlightened mind discerned the beneficial influence of the Christian Religion, and prompted him to extend his powerful influence and fostering care over those who had devoted themselves to its interests. The liberality of his Government provided in part for the support of each of the Missionaries, whereby the funds of the Society were greatly relieved. It was no less cause for gratitude to God that Columbo was at the same time blessed with a Chaplain, Mr. Twistleton, who appreciated their character and object, and manifested towards them a Christian affection and liberal countenance, which proved of great importance both to their comfort and success. They were soon actively engaged at their several stations in acquiring the languages of the island, in preaching to those who understood Dutch, and in teaching their children. Finding that their labours required further aid, they soon called upon their Society for additional Missionaries. 2. In the same year Mr. Vos, who had been apthe island. pointed Minister of the Dutch Church at Galle, was removed to Columbo, where he preached to a few Dutch who attended the Church, and to a greater number in his own house: he preached, also, at two or three other private houses on the weekdays, and took pains to catechize the children. But his fidelity in proclaiming the Truth soon roused the enmity of the carnal mind; and at the instigation of some of the Dutch Consistory, whom his zeal had offended, he was removed from the Church in which he had been placed. But as many pious people, deeply affected with his preaching, attended him at his house, and farther proposed to build a Church for him, his opponents were irritated beyond all bounds, and nothing but the expulsion of this pious and industrious Missionary could satisfy them. Governor North had called him to Columbo. From the present Governor, also, General Maitland, he had received much personal kindness; and though the General thought it right to yield to the angry solicitations of the Dutch Consistory, it was with considerable regret that he ordered him to quit the island, and he continued his salary for three months after his departure. The aged Missionary retired to Negapatam, where he officiated for some months in the Dutch Church, and his ministrations were very acceptable to the inhabitants. In 1809 he assisted Mr. Loveless at Madras for a short time. After this he visited Vizagapatam; and thence returned, in the same year, to the Cape of Good Hope, to spend the residue of his days and ministry among his countrymen and friends. hardt's dif 3. Mr. Ehrhardt, who in 1807 came to Columbo Mr. Ehrto obtain assistance in the acquisition of the Cinga- ficulties. lese language, was soon ordered to return to Matura. After reaching home he received a second order not to interfere with any of the Dutch; but to confine his Mission and instructions to the Cingalese. All this intolerance, like that against Mr. Vos, was raised at the instigation of the Dutch Consistory. After his return to Matura he found himself encompassed by difficulties. The religion of the Gospel was hated and opposed by nominal Christians. Many of the Malays and Cingalese, who had been baptized by the Dutch Ministers when the island was in their possession, had relapsed into gross idolatry; and the blind attachment of the Natives in general to their superstitions, together CHAP. V. Low character of Native with the difficulty of acquiring the Cingalese language, and the very limited number of Missionaries, all combined to hinder the progress of Christianity in this populous colony of the British empire. 4. The principal object of his care was the Christian congregation of the place; and in a letter Christians. dated September 25, 1808, he thus describes the character of this people :-" You can form no idea of the deplorable state of the Christians in this island. Most of them live worse than the Heathen, who still have some reverence for their idols, and conscientiously offer them their sacrifices; but most of the Christians seem to have cast off all regard for the true and living God, despise His Word, and profane His Sabbaths. Did I not feel myself in duty bound to obey the warrant of the Governor, I should at once leave the Christians and turn to the Heathen. But the Christians stand as much, if not more, in need of instruction as the Heathen; for they must first become genuine Christians, in order to prove burning and shining lights among the Heathen. But now our holy religion is rendered contemptible and odious by their profaneness and vices." This was the general character of the Native Christians. They are everywhere described as in a "miserable" condition, thousands of them being actually worshippers of Budhoo. Mr. Palm at Tilli pally. The Dutch congregation at Matura consisted of forty-five members, of whom only six partook of the Lord's Supper. Yet, discouraging as his circumstances were, he concluded-"I will not cast away my confidence, but cheerfully hope that God will mercifully regard my cry, and make me an useful instrument for the promotion of His glory, and the salvation of souls. I do once more solicit an interest in your prayers." 99 5. Mr. Palm, who resided at Tillipally, near Jaffnapatam, was occupied in the study of Tamul, the language spoken in that province. His trials were great, though differing from those of Mr. Ehrhardt, as he was surrounded by a people notoriously vicious and turbulent; but by patience, diligence, humility, and devotedness to his work, he succeeded in quieting some unruly spirits, and made good progress in the study of their language. In labouring to instruct these idolaters he was much assisted by his wife, who made as great progress in the language as himself, and was active in the instruction of the native women and children. She was a woman of a truly Missionary spirit, who cheerfully shared all the fatigues and privations of this arduous service. Mr. Palm took possession of the old Protestant Church of Tillipally, in which Baldæus preached to two thousand Natives.1 at Point de Galle. 6. Mr. Read, at Point de Galle, was diligently Mr. Read employed in various ways. He preached to the English soldiers, and visited them when confined in the hospital. Being able to address the Dutch in their own language, he met those who were inclined to join for religious worship and instruction in the house of a friend. He studied the Cingalese with diligence and success, and kept a School for teaching Cingalese and Portuguese boys the English language, on which he engrafted religious instruction, and obtained the translation of two Catechisms into Dutch, Portuguese, and Cingalese, for the use of his pupils. He endeavoured to procure Bibles, Prayer-Books, Hymn-Books, and other religious works, for his School; and remarked, that he had no doubt that much good might be done by faithful Missionaries who could speak the Cingalese language, notwithstanding the deplorable darkness of that people, which, like Mr. Ehrhardt, he described and lamented in affecting terms. 7. In common with other every person interested (1) Dr. Buchanan's Christian Researches, p. 91. Import ance of Christian example. CHAP. V. Missio naries attend to the Natives. in the progress of religion in the island, he felt the importance of Christian example in Europeans to the propagation of Christianity among the Natives. This had been well described a short time before, by the Chaplain of Columbo, in the following terms:"The most effectual means of disseminating the blessings of the Gospel throughout the East would be for the Christians who go to those parts to live in a manner worthy of their profession. Had all the Europeans who have visited India been sincere and enlightened Christians, more numerous converts would have been made, without force or solicitation. The native servants never fail warmly to love a master who leads a Christian life. They receive every lesson of religious instruction, which is offered to them by such a person, with delight and gratitude; and they naturally feel a desire to embrace a system of faith and practice, of the beneficial tendency of which they enjoy so comfortable and impressive an example.' 8. A few years after, the justice of these remarks, directed to and the obligation which they implied, began to be generally acknowledged by the respectable portion of the British inhabitants of Ceylon. Sir Alexander Johnstone took an active part in the measures adopted to obtain from England Christian teachers, for the instruction both of Europeans and Natives. In 1809, when in England, he conferred with the London Missionary Society, as well as other institutions, on this important subject. Impressed with a generous concern for the melioration of the condition of the people, he urged upon the Society the necessity of sending Christian teachers to superintend the Schools already established, and expressed his opinion, that if their Missionaries were directed to leave the coast towns, which were inha (1) Cordiner. Vol. i. pp. 165, 166. |