came, he enquired what poor people there were, that had any children, whom they were willing to have taught English, and to read and write, and to learn the catechism; and where he met with a competent number, he enquired for fit persons to instruct them; a man for the boys, and a woman for the girls; and agreed with them for a penny, or twopence a week, which he undertook to pay.

Mr Edmund Calamy saith, "When he had lost much by the fire, and had settled his children, and had his wife taken from him by death, he had but about one hundred and fifty pounds a year left, and he gave a hundred of it to charitable uses. It was his daily work to do all the good he could, with as great diligence and constancy, as other men labour at their trades. He visited the poor, and stirred up the rich in whom he had any interest, to dovote at least the tenth part of their estates to works of charity. Dr Owen saith, "that he was a person eminently suited unto that work he was called unto. For whereas he was deprived of all outward advantages (as well as many others) not only increasing his wealth in the world, but of ordinary supplies for himself, and family, beyond his peculiar patrimony, he abundantly manifested himself to have lived in the faith of that truth, which he endeavoured to implant in the minds and consciences of others, and did but invite men unto the same belief and practice with himself."-Dr Manton saith, "That he was a meet advocate for so good a cause, for we willingly hear every man in his own faculty, none so fit to exhort others to charity, as those that are eminently charitable themselves. When he was between sixty and seventy years old, he used to travel into Wales, and disperse what money he could spare himself, or collect from others, among the poor persecuted ministers there. He settled in the chief towns of Wales a great many schools, to the number of three or four hundred, for women, to teach children to read, having himself undertaken to pay them for many hundred children. He preached in Wales till they drove him from place to place by persecution. He went constantly to the parish churches, and sometimes communicated with them; and was authorized by an old university-license, to preach occasionally; and yet for so doing, was excommunicated even in Wales, and that while he was doing all this good."

For about nine or ten years before his death, he did almost wholly apply his charity to Wales, because there he judged was most occasion for it: and, because this was a very great work, he did not only lay out upon it whatever he could spare out of his own estate, but employed his whole time and pains to excite and engage the charity of others for his assistance in it. And in this he had two excellent designs; one, to have poor children brought up to read, and to be carefully instructed in the principles of religion: the other to furnish persons of grown age, the poor especially, with the necessary helps and means of knowledge, as the Bible, and other books of piety and devotion, in their own language; to which end he procured the Church Catechism, the Practice of Piety, besides several other pious and useful books, some of them to be translated into the Welch tongue; and great numbers of them all, to be printed, and sent down to the chief towns in Wales, to be sold at easy rates to those that were able to buy them, and to be freely given to those that were not. And in both these designs, through the

blessing of God upon his unwearied endeavours, he found very great success, for, by the large and bountiful contributions, which chiefly by his industry and prudent application, were obtained from charitable persons of all ranks and conditions, from the nobility and gentry of Wales, and the neighbouring counties and several of that quality in and about London: and from that perpetual fountain of charity the city of London, led on and encouraged by the most bountiful example of the right honourable the lord mayor, and the court of aldermen; to all which he constantly added two thirds of his own estate; I say, by all these together, there were every year eight hundred, sometimes a thousand poor children educated, and by this example, several of the most considerable towns of Wales were excited to bring up at their own charge the like number of poor children in the like manner, and under his inspection and care. He likewise gave very great numbers of the books abovementioned, both in the Welch and English tongues, to the poorer sort, so many as were unable to buy them, and willing to read them. But, which was the greatest work of all, and amounted indeed to a mighty charge, he procured a new and very fair impression of the Bible in the Welch tongue, to a number of eight thousand, one thousand whereof were freely given to the poor; and the rest were sent to the principal cities and towns in Wales, to be sold to the rich at very reasonable and low rates. A work of that charge, that it was not likely to have been done any other way; and for which this age, and perhaps the next, will have great cause to thank God on his behalf. He was used to say often with pleasure," That he had two livings, which he would not exchange for two of the greatest in England, meaning Wales, where he used to travel every year to spread knowledge, piety, and charity; and Christ's Hospital, where he used freely to catechize the poor children, in order to the well laying the foundations of religion in them in their tender years." I shall here subjoin an account of his charities in Wales for one year, by which some judgment may be made, as to the rest. It was in the year 1674, before his excellent impression of the Bible, in the Welch tongue; it was printed about that time in a single sheet, which is apt to be lost; whereas it is pity, but it should be preserved to posterity; it was in these words, "An Account of what hath been done in Wales this last Year, from Midsummer 1674, to March 25th, 1675, in pursuance of the above trust, upon the encouragement of divers worthy persons, to this pious aud charitable design. 1. In fifty-one of the chief towns of Wales, eight hundred and twelve poor children have been, and are put to school, to learn English over and above the five hundred put to school the last year by the charity of others, before this trust began. 2. There have been bought and distributed in several families, thirtytwo Welch Bibles, which were all that could be had in Wales or London. 3. There were two hundred and forty New Testaments in Welch, to be given away to poor people, that can read Welch. And five hundred Whole Duties of Man in Welch to be distributed in like manner. All which charitable undertaking, hath already provoked divers of the better sort of the Welch, to put above five hundred of the poorest Welch children to school, upon their account. So that about one thousand eight hundred and fifty in all, are already put to school to learn to read English.

4.

In these good works, he employed all his time and care, and pains, and his whole heart was in them, so that he was very little affected with anything else. And the good success he had was a continual feast to him; and gave him a perpetual serenity both of mind and countenance. His great love and zeal for this work made all the pains and difficulties of it seem nothing to him: he would rise early and sit up late, and continued in the same diligence and industry to the last, though he was in the threescore and seventeenth year of his age. And, that he might manage the distribution of his great charity with his own hands, and see the good effects of it with his own eyes, he always once, but usually twice a-year, at his own charge travelled over a great part of Wales: so that, all things considered, there have not, since the primitive times, been many to whom that glorious character of the Son of God might be better applied, that " he went about doing good."

2. The Honourable ROBERT BOYLE. It appeared to those, who conversed most with him, in his enquiries into nature, that his main design in that, on which as he had in his own eye most constantly, so he took care to put others often in mind of it, was to raise in himself and others vaster thoughts of the greatness and glory, and of the wis. dom and goodness of God. This was so deep in his thoughts, that he concludes the article of his will which relates to that illustrious body, the royal society, in these words, "wishing them also a happy success in their laudable attempts, to discover the true nature of the works of God; and praying that they and all other searchers into physical truths, may cordially refer their attainments to the glory of the great Author of Nature, and to the comfort of mankind." As he was a very devout worshipper of God, so he was no less a devout Christian. He thought pure and disinterested Christianity was so bright and so glorious a thing, that he was much troubled at the disputes and divisions which had arisen about some lesser matters, while the great and the most import ant, as well as the most universally acknowledged, truths were by all sides almost as generally neglected as they were confessed. He had therefore designed -though some accidents did, upon great considerations, divert him from settling it during his life, but not from ordering it by his will, that a liberal provision should be made for one, who should in a very few well digested sermons, every year, set forth the truth of the Christion religion in general, without descending to the subdivisions among Christians, and who should be changed every third year, so that this noble study and employment might pass through many hands, by which means many might become masters of the argument. He was at the charge of the translation and impression of the New Testament into the Malayan language, which he sent over all the East Indies. He gave a noble reward to him that translated Grotius's book of the Truth of the Christian Religion into Arabic, and was at the charge of a whole impression, which he took care to order to be scattered in all the countries where that language is understood. He was resolved to have carried on the impression of the New Testament into the Turkish language, but the company thought it became them to be the doers of it, and so suffered him only to give a large share towards it. He was at L.700 charge in the edition of the Irish Bible, which he ordered to be distributed in Ireland; and he contributed liberally both to the

impressions of the Welch Bible, and of the Irish Bible for Scotland. He gave, during his life, L.300 to advance the design of propagating the Christian Religion in America, and as soon as he heard the East India Company were entertaining propositions for the like design in the East, he presently sent L.100 for a beginning and an example, but intended to carry it much farther, when it should be set on foot to purpose.

3. Mr ROBERT JUNIUS, late of Delpht, in Holland, was nominated by the honoured and pious senate, of the famous expedition of the united provinces, for the conversion of the Eastern Indians, and par ticularly in Formosa: who accordingly undertook the charge, went over to the place, bestowed much pains in laying the ground-work, and principles of religion amongst them; so that of persons grown up (adult) in Formosa 5900 of both sexes, gave up their names to Christ; and professing their faith, and giving fit answers to questions propounded out of the Word of God, were baptized by him. He set up schoolmasters to instruct others, and gained six hundred scholars to read; collected the chief heads of religion, and composed several prayers, and translated certain psalms into the Formosan language. This in the Northern parts mostly: but in the Southern, also, he planted churches in twenty-three towns, and promoted the worship of the true God. At last, having set divers pastors over them, being grown weak and unserviceable in body, and desirous to see his aged mother, and native country, he returned home again. This narration is published in Latin, by Casp. Sebellius, and prefixed to his book, called Antidotum Ambitionis, and attested by several others. See the narrative published in London 1650.

4. Mr WINSLOW, in several relations, gives the following account as to the Indians in New-England. First time, October 28, 1646. Four of us (saith he) having sought God, went, according to ap pointment, to the wigwam (or tent made of boughs and mats) of Waaubon (an Indian governor) who had given up his eldest son before, to be educated by the English in the knowledge of God; where we found many Indians gathered together from all quarters, to learn of us the knowledge of God. We preached in the Indian tongue above an hour; the Indians attended very diligently, professing they understood all that was taught them. Then we propounded questions, and desired them to propound questions to us; which they did. 1. Quest. How may we come to know Jesus Christ? 2. Quest. Whether God or Jesus Christ did understand Indian prayers? 3. Quest. Whether Englishmen were at at any time so ignorant of God and Jesus, as they? This question being answered, and we demanding if they were weary; they answering no: a time was agreed upon for our coming again.

The second time, Nov. 11, 1646, meeting all in at Waaubon's wigwam, we found more Indians than at the first. After prayer, we asked them three questions, which were thus answered. 1. Quest. Who made you and all the world? Ans. God. 2. Who do you look should save you from sin and hell? Ans. Jesus Christ. 3. Quest. How many commandments? Ans. Ten. After this we preached of God, Christ, sin, punishment of sin, God's now offer. ing salvation unto them, with which some much affected; one wept much. They propounded questions to us. 1. An old man asked, Is it not too late, for one so old as I am, to repent? 2. Seeing

were

we all come from one father, how came the English to know God more than we? 3. How may we come to serve God? 4. If a man have stolen, and restored again, and was punished by the Sachim (Indian governor) what then? Ans. God's anger burns like fire against all such sins, but if he fly to God's mercy in Christ, and repent, God will forgive him. Upon this the man drew back, hung down his head, as smitten at the heart, and his eyes ready to drop, saying, "Me little know Jesus Christ, else I should seek him better."

Third time, Nov. 26, 1646. We met again, found more wigwams built. The preacher hearing that other Indians had discouraged these, he encouraged them. The same week one Wimpas, a sage Indian, with two stout young men, brought his son, and three other Indian children, to be taught English, and the knowledge of God; the two young men offering their service for the like end; and certifying, that the old man, (who had asked if such a one could be saved) his wife, and one of his six sons (who were Pawaws) were resolved to hear the Word, and seek to the devil no more.

5. The Rev. Mr BRAND. Dr Annesly (whose non-such zeal in promoting the Gospel has been so successful in this part of the world) gives the following account of him in the narrative of his life, wherein he seems to have been actuated by a double portion of the same Spirit, whilst he writes the story of his friend. He tells us, his zeal for promoting the Gospel was so extensive, that, besides his constant weekly catechizing where he resided, he promoted the constancy of it in all schools and places to which he was a benefactor; and engaged all ministers, to whose support he contributed, to be diligent in it, often examining the conduct and success of those he trusted with it. And besides these, again, he hired several other persons in distant places to catechise children, and all others willing to be instructed; and, once a-month, or oftener, rode to visit and catechize them himself, and to encourage them to do well; and especially those who were old, and yet ignorant, and therefore ashamed to come to frequent those exercises, he gave them books or money, according to their quality; and to allure masters and parents to send their children or servants, he would also present them with books curiously bound and gilt; and to such as were poor, he would give more money than they could earn in the time spent in learning. His discourse with parents and masters themselves was catechistical, and yet not disparaging; all his questions to all sorts so instructively worded, that they could not miss a right answer, and his whole method charming and welcome in families, schools, and public assemblies, to both old and young, ignorant, and knowing. He exhorted all he came near to become catechists, or catechumens. He gave away many thousands of catechisms, and many hundreds with expositions, not only of those of the Assembly's but very many of Dr Comber's, and of Mr Thomas Adam's Principles of Christian Religion, cleared and confirmed by the Articles and Homilies neither would he be quiet until he made his disciples thoroughly understand the points he put them to. In short, our author says, his heart was on his exercise living and dying; and that he never knew any one so painful, and at such care and cost about it, as he.

He dispersed incredible numbers of the most practical, pious sorts of books, not only of small, but considerable price, viz., some thousands, if not ten thousands of catechisms, many with expositions; some thousands of Shepherd's Sincere Convert, R. Allein's Vindiciae Pietatis, Mr Joseph Allein, Of Conversion, several of Mr Baxter's works, as his Call to the Unconverted, his Now or Never, his Saint's Rest, &c. Particularly he and some others, of whom he was chief, having agreed for an impression of twenty thousand of Mr Joseth Allein's book Of Conversion, he paid down fifty pounds himself, as earnest, for the printing and dispersing them through England and Wales; and afterwards procured an impression of twenty thousand more, to be sold at under rates. He also disposed some writings of Conformists, viz., Pink's Trial of sincere Love to Christ, Caley, Of Eternity, Wade, Of Redemption of Time, Dent's Plain Man's Path-Way to Heaven, Scudder's Daily Walk, Reiner's Precepts, &c., also, Fox's Martyrs, in three volumes, and Charnock's Works in two volumes, several annotations and commentaries on the scriptures, and several libraries to young students, and candidates for the ministry. Above all, his care and policy was to disperse Bibles by giving way, perhaps some thousands; and when he found some were so tender of charging him with such gifts, that they had rather be without, he contrived between his friends and himself to distribute them at one shilling and sixpence a piece, on conditions not to sell them again; by which he caught many that refused them gratis, and returned some money towards buying more: and he not only gave such books to assist the poor, but to allure and oblige the rich, he presented them also with books most proper for them, richly bound, to make them the more acceptable. In a word, all houses and places wherever he came, or could send, were stored with pious books, where they would accept them; and he never made a journey, but in every inn, or other place, where he lodged or stopt, he employed all the little time he had, and all opportunities he could find, to fasten good counsel, or good books, or both, on all he met with, of what condition soever of which our author gives several instances in page 60, &c. to 65. To sum up his charitable expenses, a notable, prying, intelligent person, who lived some years in the same house with him, affirms, tbat to his knowlege, he spent about three hundred pounds a-year that way, besides what he could not find out, which could not but be very considerable, besides the many large charities he continually procured from others, which no man was more successful in doing, even from the most covetous persons; he sometimes using to say, He would not sell his estate, because entailed, but he would squeeze it as long as he lived; and that he would accept of no man's estate, if he must be tied from using it on spiritual accounts: and he would often pity the condition of wicked rich men. In fine, his zeal for doing good was such, he could as soon cease to live, as cease to attempt it, there being one place where he was contriving to settle a minister, notwithstanding his weakness, when he died. Such was the life, and such the exit of this godly man. The author applies the whole with the same counsel to the reader that our Saviour gave to the Jewish Scribe: "Go, and do thou likewise."

Fortaleza or citadel There are three Christian Churches in it; a Danish Church for the use of that nation, the Jerusalem Church, for the converted Malabarians; and another belonging to the Papists. There is besides a large mosque built by the Mahometans, and five huge pagods frequented by the Malabar Heathens. Some of the adjacent towns and villages, fifteen in number, are subject to the Danish Government. The largest of these is Borejar, containing almost as many inhabitants as Tranquebar itself, and Tilliar, a fine large town; the rest of the villages are not so populous. Through all these, the Danish missionaries preached the Gospel.

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Another pamphlet, giving account of the progress of these missionaries, is printed in the year 1710. They gained more and more ground among the Heathens in Malabar; God opened a door to speak the mysteries of Christ, though his servants met with a deal of opposition. However, their congregation was increased to above one hundred; and they had hopes, that there would be a considerable addition in a short time. They tell us, that the Malabarians did not only resort from very distant places, to hear the word preached in their own language, but had also many private conferences with the Christian missionaries, upon the subject of the salvation of their souls. Mr Ziegenbalg, who is the greatest proficient in the Malabar tongue, has sent over several treatises composed by himself in that language, bearing the following titles, Twenty-six Sermons, preached at Jerusalem Church, upon all the articles of the Christian Religion. A Draught of the Examination of such as are to be Baptized. A Book of Psalms usually sung in our Churches. for the outside of these books, they are of a quite different dress from these in Europe; there is neither paper nor leather, pen nor ink made use of; the characters, by the help of iron tools, are impressed on a sort of leaves of a certain tree, much like a palmtree; and at the end of every leaf a hole is made, and through the bole a string is drawn, whereby they are kept together, but must be untied whenever the print of these characters is to be read. The missionaries designed to solicit the king of Tanjour, for liberty to travel freely in his dominions, and to preach the Gospel of Christ to such of the Heathens as are willing to receive it; but were obliged to lay aside this design, being informed, that no such address will be received, except it be accompanied with great gifts and presents, which they are not able to offer. But they entered on a journey to Madras, January 7th, 1710. When Mr Ziegenbalg's congregation were afraid of his leaving them, they entreated him with tears not to quit them, but to return as soon as possible, which he promised to do. Last New Year's day, he wrote a pretty long letter to the Heathens in Malabar, laying down the most proper means for their real conversion to God, and inviting them to espouse the interest of their souls, while it was brought so near their doors: he transcribed copies of this letter, and dispersed the same among the Heathens, with the Gospel of St Matthew; and a small treatise, containing the Principles of Christianity, presenting it even to the Brahmans, and talking with the Heathen about these things almost every hour. But I cannot enlarge on all the particulars. The same author also informs us, that their new planted congregation at Tranquebar was increasing under the gracious influence of God, though in its very in

fancy surrounded with various oppositions and persecutions, the common attendants of the Gospel of Christ. Our whole congregation (says he) both of these who are actually baptized, and the Catechumens, is increased to about an hundred and sixty persons. Our Malabaric school is in very great forwardness, and provided with an able master, who, before his conversion to Christianity, was one of the most able and famous poets and schoolmasters at Tranquebar. His conversion caused a great alarm among the Heathens, who never expected any such thing; but now all is quiet again. We have begun to set up some manufactories, which we hope, may prove in time, beneficial to the main work we are carrying on, if we are powerfully supported by our superiors. I do not question but hundreds of Heathens would have been initiated into Christianity by this time, but these supports being wanting, we endeavour the more to bring the few that are entered into the lists of our religion, to a more solid and experimental taste thereof. But, above all things, I must tell you, what taketh me most, is the education of the Malabar children here. They are of a good promising temper, being not yet prepossessed with so many headstrong prejudices against Christianity. They are sooner wrought upon into a sense of the fear of God. Certainly we look on our youth as a stock and nursery, from whence, in time, plentiful supplies may be drawn, for enriching our Malabaric Church, with such members as may prove a glory and ornament to the Christian religion. It is true, there are but few of the grown Heathens, who are willing to be baptized into the name of Christ; and yet there is always a concourse of people attending our sermons, and other parts of divine service: and, doubtless, many return with strong couvictions left upon their minds: all this gives me a fair prospect of gaining a large door for the word in process of time." He tells also, "That the English at Fort St David have been very encouraging to this noble design." He adds, "The Roman Catholic missionaries have made a wonderful progress, and continue to overrun the country; but since their chief design is to make proselytes to a party, such as fall under their management are left in the utmost darkness and ignorance, without receiving the least tincture of real inward piety and conversion." Our author met with a Brahman, who had been baptized four years before that by these Popish missionaries, and yet knew nothing of Christianity, but that he was sprinkled with water; yea, carried still about with him the usual badge whereby these Pagan priests distinguish themselves from the common people, which is a little Heathenish idolet, fastened before their breasts; he also anointed his breast and forehead after the way of these Pagan priests, with an ointment made of ashes and cow dung. This is the sorry conversion of Heathens by the Popish missionaries.

In a third pamphlet, under the same title, Propagation of the Gospel in the East, printed at London in 1714, we have a further account of this good work. The missionaries set up a charity school for advancing their design: they got a few Malabar boys, and laid the foundation of the school in 1706; to engage the Heathen as much as possible, they not only instructed their children gratis, but also provided many of them with food and raiment, as their exigence required. This, in the very infancy of the design, could not but leave a good impression upon