did the demand increase, that in 1813 the Missionary at Vepery reported to the Secretary of the ChristianKnowledge Society, that he now found no difficulty in distributing the books sent to him by the Society, both at Madras and the Out-stations; and that applications were made to him almost every week for English Bibles, Common-Prayer Books, Catechisms, Spelling-books, and religious Tracts. For some time, however, the supply was so inadequate that they sold for very high prices.3

mence

operations.

12. In this dearth of the Scriptures, Mr. Thompson Comhad been strongly urged to establish an association ment of of the Bible Society at Madras; but for some time he Bible Society's found this impracticable. The consternation of the Vellore mutiny had not yet subsided in the mind of the Governor, who peremptorily prohibited the formation of a Bible Association or Committee, or even the general circulation of a subscription paper; adding, however, that Mr. Thompson was of course at liberty to apply to his private friends. His friends were not appealed to in vain. They gave him their money freely, and he was enabled annually to send a liberal remittance to the Calcutta Bible Society; while these contributions flowed back in an ample supply of the Scriptures, in English, Portuguese, Tamul, and other languages used in the South.

The collection of the subscriptions, and the circulation of the books, which for some time depended solely on Mr.Thompson's personal exertions, entailed upon him a considerable weight of business; but he was not without recompense in the result of his labours, as one instance will show. Having succeeded in supplying the soldiers who went to the

(2) Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Report, 1814. (3) So late as 1816 the author paid, at Madras, seven pagodas (21. 16s.) for one of the Society's sixteen shilling Bibles.

III.

CHAP. capture of Java with a large number of Bibles and Testaments, he had afterwards the gratification of knowing that they were well used, and that they were "often the resort, the refreshment, the consolation, of many a brave man returned from battle." His circulation of the Tamul Scriptures also was equally satisfactory. Children and adults, Schoolmasters and Catechists, and occasionally even Romish Priests, expressed great anxiety to possess them; and he received abundant evidence "that both Heathens and Christians perused them with pleasure and edification."1

Opposition to the progress of religion.

13. It must not be supposed, however, that the improvement in the state of religion at Madras flowed on in an untroubled course. Such an opinion would be contrary to the record of the progress of the Gospel in any age or place from the beginning. The natural mind is not, in any instance, soon brought to the obedience of faith. Even in its best state, as in the Pharisees of old, proud, and going about to establish its own righteousness, it will not submit itself to the righteousness of God. And as with the doctrines, so with the precepts of the Bible. St. Paul's description of it is the same

(1) Mr. Thompson thus expressed himself at the time on this subject:"As to the disposition of the Natives themselves, of the best caste, towards the Bible, take the following, among other no less striking evidences. A Nair of Travancore even reproached one of our Zillah Judges on the coast for not giving them our Scriptures. The Judge had been reading to him some passages from the Malayalim Gospel; when, on his stopping, the man, full of admiration of its divine sentiments, rather abruptly addressed him thus: What, Sir! and are these indeed your Shasters? Why have you not given them to us? We have not kept back ours from you; why have you not given us yours? I could give you affecting instances of the lively gratitude with which many have received the Tamul Scriptures, and the veneration they have expressed for them by word and action."-History of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Vol. iii. pp. 118-120.

everywhere. "The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."2 This enmity it will show, in such a way as it can, wheresoever it is brought into collision with the Truth. So it was in Madras under the preaching of Mr. Thompson. His full exposition of the Gospel, and faithful application of it to the consciences and lives of his auditors, gave great offence to many, and raised against him revilings of disdain, cruel mockings, and evil speaking; and such persecutions of the tongue are often harder to bear than persecutions of violence to the body.

Two circumstances may be mentioned as specially concurring to raise against him, on the one hand, this spirit of hostility, and, on the other, to extend and deepen the favourable impression of religion in the place. One was, his notice from the pulpit of a public masquerade during Lent. He was not in the habit of attacking the usual frivolities of the world, aiming rather at the great essential of making the tree good, that the fruit might be good also 3. But this was an outrage against the solemnities of the season, which, as a Minister of the Established Church, he could not suffer to pass unnoticed. He knew not of it until the evening of its exhibition, so that he had no opportunity beforehand of protesting against it; but he did not suffer it to go unreproved. On the following Sunday, having preached on the subject of a broken and a contrite heart, and the special call of the Church at that season upon all its members to humble themselves before the Lord, in conclusion, he addressed himself with much solemnity to those who had so lately offended against it, pointing out the inconsistency of their conduct who had made so easy a step from the solemnities of the season to the

CHAP.

III.

frivolities and dissipations of a masquerade, and were now returned to their places in the humiliations of the Church. Deep was the impression produced. The congregation retired in silence; and long was it remembered, and variously discussed, not at Madras only, but in distant parts of India. One lady, the chief patroness of the masquerade, was much offended, and endeavoured, in the following Lent, to get up a grand ball, as though in defiance of her bold reprover; but the attempt proved almost a total failure, not more than twenty accepting her invitation. The address of the last year was not forgotten, and few were found daring enough to expose themselves to a similar rebuke.

While the report of these matters spread far and wide, with exaggerated and erroneous representations of the facts1, at Madras itself the impression, on the whole, was favourable; far more

might have been expected, considering that the chief offenders were the principal families in the settlement.2

(') One friend, from the extremity of Travancore, wrote to Mr. Thompson, that it was reported there, that such was the offence he had given, especially to the leading party, that he was to be sent home. Another, in Calcutta, wrote, in some anxiety, to know what he had been doing!

(2) The behaviour of the Governor, General Abercrombie, on the occasion, was honourable to himself, and will serve to show the propriety with which several persons of distinction viewed the subject. He was the son of General Abercrombie, who fell in Egypt. Though not at church himself, his staff were; and from their various reports of the sermon, he was favourably impressed. A few days after occurred the anniversary of the battle of Alexandria, in which his father so nobly conquered, but was slain; and, according to custom, he had invited a numerous party to celebrate the event. But he now felt some misgivings as to the propriety of such public festivities at the present season, and consulted the chaplains on the subject; promising, that if it would be offensive to the religious part of the community he would put it off, though many persons had come from the country to attend it. The party was connected, also, with the anniversary of some Scotch Benevo

lent

The other circumstance referred to above occurred in the autumn of the same year. At that time the Lord's Supper was administered only four times a year at St. Mary's, in Fort St. George, and great was the neglect of this sacrament. Mr. Thompson therefore preached, at this season, a special sermon, explanatory of the nature of the ordinance, setting forth the obligation of all to keep it, and closing with a powerful and direct appeal to those who neglected this duty. The effect produced was such as had never been witnessed at Madras. The whole congregation kept their seats as if consciencesmitten. Except the soldiers, who were marched out of Church as usual at the conclusion of the service, not one left his seat until Mr. Thompson quitted the pulpit, and eighty remained to the Sacrament. Such a number had never before been seen at the Lord's Table. Thus was the Lord carrying forward the work of reformation so well begun by Dr. Kerr. While many opposed Mr. Thompson, he saw a goodly company of attached friends gradually gather around him, receiving the Truth in love. These greatly strengthened and encouraged him, and so adorned the doctrine of God their Saviour by a holy consistency of life and conversation, as abundantly to vindicate the doctrines he preached. When attacked by others, he could appeal to them, as blameless and harmless, sons of God without rebuke, and shining as lights in the world.3

of St.

14. The congregations at the Church continuing Erection to improve, and the Fort, in which it stood, being George's

lent Institution, which was to be held on the same day. Considering all the circumstances of the occasion, the Chaplains expressed no objection to it, merely remarking, that they thought it should be as quiet as possible. "It shall," was the Governor's generous reply. Accordingly, he would not allow the band to attend, and broke up the party at a very early hour.

(3) Phil. ii. 15.

Church.