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Sunday, he could induce no Cooley to carry it for him; such was the respect paid to the Sabbath by all classes of Natives, in consequence of the Governor's order! It is in the power of the Indian Government to procure a similar reverence for that Sacred Day, at every European Station throughout its dominions; and I feel persuaded, that, in doing so, the British Character would be raised in the Natives' esteem.

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These Regulations should be published in the vernacular language of every Station, for the information of all classes of Natives: for it is of importance to the Government, that the inhabitants should at length know how to distinguish between the Acts and Regulations of the Rulers, and the misconduct of their Agents; otherwise the character of the former will continue to suffer from the delinquencies of the latter. } Hi:

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By such precautions as are here suggested, I am confident that a great improvement will be effected in the Anglo-Indian Character. They will do more to consolidate our Eastern Empire, than any merely political arrangements that have ever been adopted. They will tend to command the respect and attachment of the Natives. And when that object is accomplished, I will not hesitate to

predict, that our possession of India will be retained to a period far beyond the most sanguine expectations, on the nicest calculations, of the Statesman or Philosopher. But if no such means are adopted to improve the British Character in India, and ingratiate the English with the Natives, then will there be equal grounds to anticipate the downfal of our Eastern Empire, at a period not very remote. The Natives cannot be expected to submit to the government of Foreigners whose irreligious character they despise, when they shall once possess the power of delivering themselves from their rule.

The Abbé Dubois with justice remarks, that the present degraded and idolatrous state of India" reminds us of the great obligaitions under which we stand to the Divine Author of Revelation, the common Father of all Mankind, for having, without any previous deserving on our part, chosen us, among so many Idolatrous Nations, to be His adopted people. What ought not our gratitude to be to Him for this, the greatest of all His Divine favours?" (p. 136.) To this I will only add, that when we do know the value of Revelation, we shall feel bound, by gratitude to its Author, to communicate its doctrines and precepts to those under our controul. If we

neglect this obvious duty, we shew that we know not how to appreciate the heavenly boon, and that our hearts are devoid of gratitude to the Donor: and in the want of this principle is implied every thing odious to God!

Ingratum si dixeris, omnia dicis."

To draw this Work to a close-If the propositions laid down in the preceding pages are established, and the conclusions fairly drawn, it is plain that the sure method of preserving the dominion which the Almighty has so graciously and so wonderfully bestowed upon us in the East, is, to promote the accomplishment of His design, to extend His Empire also over the hearts of the millions of Immortal Beings whom he has brought under our sway. Thus let us follow the guidance of His Providence ; and then may we expect that He will continue to us the means of fulfilling His purposes towards the Natives of India, until their Redemption be complete.

On the other hand, we see also, that to neglect the duty which we are so obviously commissioned to perform, is the most probable way of provoking the Almighty to pluck the laurel from our brow, despoil us of our wealth, and lay our honours in the dust!

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APPENDIX.

66

To the Editor of the Calcutta Journal; dated Central India, Jan. 31, 1820.

Ought Christians to allow People of any Faith or Sect, as Hindoos, Mussulmans, &c., to work at their Houses on Sunday ?”

SIR

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THE only passage in the SCRIPTURES that could have raised a doubt on this head, is the following: "The Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt do no manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, &c., nor thy cattle, nor the stranger that is within thy gate.' In this, the prohibition is so explicit, that nothing more than an assurance of its being addressed to Christians can be requisite to enable us to answer the question. Let this point, then, be examined.

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The Jewish Religion was given to the Jews exclusively it did not exact belief or profession from any other nation of the earth; and in no part of the Scriptures were the Jews commanded to diffuse it. For what reason, then, do people, who profess a Religion which superseded and annulled it, suppose themselves bound to pay it obedience? The Jews, we are told, are under

the displeasure of God, for continuing their adherence to it, and for rejecting Christianity and yet Christians refer to it; and, to supply what they imagine deficiencies in their own Faith, select doctrines and mandates from this.

Conduct so egregiously irrational could proceed only from the supposition of its having been enjoined by our Saviour, or by some of his Apostles. Accordingly, passages from the New Testament are cited to justify it :-"Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the Prophets I am come, not to destroy, but to fulfil.". "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God; and is profitable, for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Tim. iii. 5-16.) But these passages have not the meaning ascribed to them.

Of the first, the import is this-"I am come to fulfil all righteousness, by a thorough and personal obedience to that Law of Holiness; and no part of the Typical Ceremonies of the Law shall be unfulfilled, and no obligation of the Moral Law shall be waived." Our Saviour having, in his own person, fulfilled all the Typical and Prophetical part, and obeyed rigidly and minutely all the Moral and Preceptive part, abolished the whole; it having answered the ends for which it was given, and having received, in its completion, due honour and glory. This His Apostles declare, in every page of their writings"We are not under the Law." "We are delivered from the Law, that we should serve God in newness of spirit, not in the oldness of the letter." "The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ.

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