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The Begum was a princess highly es- pany her. In his letters to his wife teemed by the British Government, he gives many interesting particulars and she had committed the manage- of his employment; but when he ment of both civil and military affairs returned, the latter end of March, it into the hands of this gentleman. was in so emaciated a state, that The remuneration proposed was li- Mrs. Chamberlain trembled when beral, and there was a prospect also she saw him. After a repose of only of obtaining other pupils. In his three days, he again set out on a reply to this request, Mr. Chamber- journey to Hurdwar. His object in lain expressly stated, that if he ac- this excursion was to be present at a cepted of it, it must be as a Mis- fair, where an immense multitude of sionary, and without any restraint people assembled. He was not deon his work. This negotiation was terred by indisposition from understopped by the events detailed, but, taking this laborious duty, but rain a short time, a letter arrived at ther looked to such employment as Calcutta, enclosing a remittance for a means of restoring his health. the expenses of the journey, stating He says, "The assembly was large, the cordial approbation of the probably ten lacks of people were measure on the part of the Begum, there. Every evening I was surand that, if necessary, she would rounded with a very large congrepresent a petition to the Governor gation, to which I preached till General. Viewing this as a gracious dusk. Sometimes the congregation interposition of Providence, he immediately proceeded to Sirdhana, resting assured, that an application would be made to Government, and permission be granted, before his arrival.

He left Serampore, December 22, 1812, and arrived at Sirdhana May 8, in the following year. The whole of his Journal affords evidence of the most entire devotedness of heart to the cause of Christ. Here Mr. C. hoped to have been at peace, and proceed quietly with his work; he attended his pupil every morn ing for three or four hours, and had the rest of the day for his school, and other engagements; his means of support appear to have been comfortable, and he blessed God for abundant employment in the work dearest to his heart. After being closely confined to the immediate neighbourhood of his residence for some time, he anticipated with delight a Missionary campaign, for which an opportunity presented itself in the commencement of 1814. The Begum went to Delhi, and he received orders to accom

was surrounded by five or six ele-
phants, on which were Europeans,
who came to hear from the novelty
of the matter, which was the occa-
sion of much discourse among them;
and I have some reason to conclude,
they were in general astonished at
the attention of the people.
After one week I was completely
worn out and spent, so that I was
obliged to lie by in a tent most of
the day, in order to recruit strength
for the evening preaching. Blessed
be God for all his mercy manifested
to me."

A very honourable testimony is borne to Mr. Chamberlain's conduct at this fair, in a work entitled, "Sketches of India," by one who was an eye-witness, and regularly attended. Of the Baptist Missionary he says, "From an Hindoostanee translation of the scriptures, he read daily a considerable portion. His knowledge of the language was that of an accomplished native; his delivery impressive, and his whole manner partook much of mildness and benignity. In fine, he was such as all who undertake the arduous and painful duties of a Mis

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sionary should be. No abuse, no language which could in any way injure the sacred service he was employed in, escaped his lips. Having finished his allotted portion, on every part of which he comment ed and explained, he recited a short prayer, and concluded the evening by bestowing his blessing on all assembled." His congregation amounted in number to about eight thousand, and the same writer says, They sat around, and listened with an attention which would have reflected credit on a Christian audience. On the Missionary's retiring, they every evening cheered him home with, May the Padree (or priest) live for ever!" It was during this visit that some Testaments were circulated by Mr. C. which were afterwards discovered to have wrought so wonderful an effect on about five hundred people, that they used statedly to assemble to read and converse. Purumanunda, a native preacher, who was with Mr. Chamberlain, having discovered their place of rendezvous, went thither, and the following conversation took place between him and an elderly man. "Pray, who are all these people? and whence come they?" "We are poor and lowly, and we read and love this book." "What is this book?" "The Book of God." "Let me look at the book." On opening it, he perceived it was a gospel in Hindoostanee; many copies were in the possession of the party: some printed, others written by themselves from the printed ones. He pointed to the name of Jesus, and asked, "Who is that?" "That is God! he gave us this book." "Where did you obtain it?"" An angel from heaven gave it us at Hurdwar Fair." "An angel?" "Yes, to us he was God's angel; but he was a man, a learned pundit. The written copies we wrote ourselves." "These books

teach the religion of the European sahibs. It is their book; and they printed it in our language for our use." "Ah, no! that cannot be, for they eat flesh." The preacher explained, and added, “ God gave it long ago to the sahibs, and they sent it to us."

But though such was the fruit and effect of Mr. Chamberlain's ministry on these idolaters, and so unexceptionable a testimony had been borne, to him, some unknown individual, influenced by what motives it is difficult to conjecture, lodged a complaint against the Missionary for preaching at the Fair. Government, on receiving the information, wrote to the Begum to dismiss him. Every. effort was made to obtain permission for him to stay; but the decree having gone forth, no entreaties, even from the Begum herself, could prevail. What must have been the feelings of this man of God, when thus once more called to return to the Presidency! He says, "It is. discouraging to the husbandman to work upon a field, and then leave it to the beasts of the forest to tread it down and destroy it. It seems to me that I am always on the forlorn hope of the Mission; nevertheless, if Jehovah be on my side, I need not fear what man can do unto me." Having obtained permission of Government to settle in the Lower Provinces, he proceeded up the river on the 20th of September, 1815. Having visited Digah and Buxar, he at length decided on taking up his residence at Monghyr. He was in all respects satisfied with this station, the last he was destined to occupy as a Christian Missionary. As soon as he was recovered from a cold, which had settled on his chest, and greatly afflicted him, he commenced his work with vigour and regularity, experiencing much assistance and great success. Among other instances of his usefulness,

may be mentioned the first native convert at Monghyr, Hingham Misser, whose baptism, at the close of the year 1817, created a great stir; the whole neighbourhood being filled with wonder and consternation to see so respectable a Brahmun perform such a deed of Christian heroism. The aged Brindabun and this new convert encouraged him much, by their devotedness to the gospel of Christ.

In the year 1818, it was evident Mr. Chamberlain's constitution was yielding to the repeated attacks of disorder, with which he had been afflicted. Letters, dated April, state, that from the commencement of the year, he had been almost laid up, and for a whole month had done nothing. He says, "I delight in the work of Translations, and have my heart set upon the completion of the two versions for the work of God, (viz. the Brij and Hinduwee.) But my heart fails me. If my cough continue, what can I do?" Again he writes, "My disorder has had some asthmatic symptoms, and some that incline to consumption of the lungs, in an incipient state. Two or three days I feel better, and have a comfortable night or two; then a violent paroxysm brings me down almost to the dust. I bless the Father of mercies for his goodness to me in this long affliction: he affords me many mercies every day?" Having been advised to try change of air, in October, he says, "I am broken down under eight months of sickness. I seem to care but little for this world. Its pleasures, prospects, amd comforts are little to me. The Doctor is sending me to the Sand Heads. A budgerow is now at the ghaut, and if I can get it, I shall proceed (the Lord willing) on Monday for Calcutta." The effects of the excursion to the Sand Heads were such as to give great hopes of his recovery. He was for some time

enabled to resume his avocations; but his anxiety to finish his Translations before the lamp of life went out, were too great to allow him time to regain his strength. Every extraordinary exertion threw him back, and incapacitated him for doing what he wished. Thus he continued to struggle with his complaint, like a drowning man with the watery element, till he sunk at last beneath its pressure.

In October, 1819, it became necessary to try another visit to the Sand Heads, but on his way to Calcutta he took cold, and was reduced to a most distressing condition. When, by slow degrees, he was somewhat recovered, he sailed, and was again much refreshed at sea. This excursion was also very serviceable; but its good effects were destroyed by over exertion. He could not rest when he thought anything could be done for the salvation of souls. Every village he passed gave him new grief, if he could not enter it and preach to the natives. Before he reached Monghyr he was seized with a violent diarrhoea; by this, though relieved from cough, he was reduced to extreme debility. Under these circumstances his biographer states, that he continued preaching five or six times a-week, and doing a little every day at his translations. On the first Sabbath of September, 1821, he was obliged to relinquish his morning service, both in English and Hinduwee. It greatly added to his affliction, and hastened the final termination of his labours, that on this day also Brindabun expired. Mr. C. spoke at his grave in Hindoostanee in the afternoon, and preached a funeral sermon in English in the evening, from John xi. 11. "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth." At the close of the service he administered the Lord's Supper. All the week after he continued to grow

worse. The next Sabbath he made another attempt to preach, and this was the closing scene of his public labours: he never preached again. He resolved once more to try the river air, but his doctor thought it indispensable that he should proceed to the Cape. On the 16th of October, he thus closes his earthly correspondence: "My disorder presses me down to such a degree, that little around interests or affects me. Now and then, for a few minutes, I gain a breath or two of life, and it is very sweet and pleasant; but, alas! languor and death like living are my constant attendants. In such a case what can I do? The doctor is hurrying me off to sea. The will of the Lord be done."

three weeks, and then expired. He' was one morning found dead in his bed by the young man who attended him. He died on the 6th of December, 1821, and his remains were committed to the deep, in lat. 9. 30. N. long. 85. E.

Nothing is known of the last days of his life, the young man who waited on him having been drowned on his return to India. When the intelligence reached India, in a letter from the Cape, the late Mr. Ward preached his funeral sermon from 1 Cor. xv. 10. "By the grace of God, I am what I am and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." These words, which that distinguished missionary, Mr. Ward, considered so appropriate, as characteristic of his deceased brother, the biographer of Mr. Chamberlain has inscribed as a motto in his title page. A few of his friends erected a tablet to his memory in the Baptist Chapel, Circular Road, Calcutta, containing this inscription :

A passage to England having been taken for him on board the Princess Charlotte, he was accompanied by his wife and child, and Mr. Yates, to the ship. A desire not to put the society to more expense than was absolutely necessary, and not to leave the station entirely destitute, had previously determined him on proceeding alone; though, alas! he could ill spare the only earthly comforts he had left. They remained with him on board about a week, the vessel having been unexpectedly detained. During this time the noise and confusion occasioned his feeling worse, and often when in pain he lifted up to the propagation of the Gospel among

his heart in prayer, imploring the pardon of his sin, and grace to help him in the peculiar time of need. On the second Sabbath in November, the ship got under sail. It was an affecting parting to him and his wife, taken under a strong impression, that it was very probable they should never see each other again in this world. Such indeed proved to be the will of God. Deprived of his friends, and confined to his cabin, he languished only

Sacred to the Memory

of

MR. JOHN CHAMBERLAIN,

who,

after having devoted, with unabated zeal and indefatigable labour,

nearly twenty years of his life,

the Heathen in India,

died

on his passage to England for the recovery
of his health,
December 6, 1821,

in lat. 9. 30. N. long. 85. E.
near the Island of Ceylon,
Aged 44-5.

"Be ye followers of them who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises."

The very valuable volume, from which this Memoir has been extracted, is dedicated by Mr. Yates,

very respectfully, "To the Committee of the Baptist Missionary Society," and is now by that Committee republished in this country.

MILTONIANA. No. III.

THE chapter on the external seal ing of the covenant of grace contains Milton's sentiments on the Sacraments, as they are usually called. The substance of his remarks on baptism was given in our Number for September (see page 387): in treating of the Lord's Supper, he endeavours to shew that the presence of a minister is not necessary to its administration. He also adopts the common notion, in our opinion a very incorrect one, that the sacraments are seals of the covenant.

We pass on to notice Milton's views of Church-government, which, as will be at once perceived by those who are acquainted with the subject, coincided with those of the earlier Congregationalists, both Baptists and Independents.

He defines the universal visible church as "the whole multitude of those who are called in every part of the world, and who openly worship God the Father through Christ in any place whatever, either individually, or in conjunction with others." P. 457. Having observed that the church consists of ministers and people, and that the former are either extraordinary, such as apostles and prophets―or ordinary, as pastors and teachers-he thus proceeds: Any believer is competent to act as an ordinary minister, according as convenience may require, provided only he be endowed with the necessary gifts; these gifts constituting his mission. Such were, before the law, the fathers or eldest sons of families, as Abel, Noah, Abraham, &c. Such

were, under the law, Aaron and his posterity, the whole tribe of Levi, and lastly the prophets. In like manner, any one, who appeared to be in other respects qualified, was allowed to teach openly in the synagogue, though he were neither priest nor Levite; a permission which was granted to Christ, and subsequently to Paul at Antiocb. Acts xiii. 15. How much more then must every believer endowed with similar gifts enjoy the same liberty under the gospel! Accordingly, this liberty is expressly conceded-Mark ix. 38, 39. Acts viii. 4. xi. 19, &c." P. 461.

as

A particular church is defined— a society of persons professing the faith, united by a special bond of brotherhood, and so ordered may best promote the ends of edification and mutual communion of the saints:" its "ordinary ministers” are "presbyters" and "deacons,” the choice of whom belongs to the people.

On the maintenance of Christian ministers we find the following remarks:-" With regard to the remuneration to be allotted to the ministers of the universal church, as well as to those of particular religious communities, it must be allowed that a certain recompence is both reasonable in itself, and sanctioned by the law of God and the declarations of Christ and his apostles; Matt. x. 10. 1 Cor. ix. 7-13. Gal. vi. 6. 1 Tim. v. 17, 18. Hence it is lawful and equitable, and the ordinance of God himself, 1 Cor. ix. 14, that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. It is however more desirable for example's sake, and for the preventing of offence or suspicion, as well as more noble and honourable in itself, and conducive to our more complete glorying in God, to render an unpaid service to the church in this as well as in all other instances, and,

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