vour to evangelize the Hindoos, will appear from the following letters, addressed to the Mission aries by his Majesty.

"GEORGE, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, "France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. to the "Reverend and Learned Bartholomew Ziegenbalgius "and John Earnest Grundlerus, Missionaries at Tran"quebar, in the East Indies.

"Reverend and Beloved,

"Your letters dated the 20th of January of the present year, were most welcome to us; not only because the "work undertaken by you of converting the heathen to "the Christian faith, doth, by the grace of God, prosper, " but also because that, in this our kingdom, such a lau"dable zeal for the promotion of the gospel prevails.

"We pray you may be endued with health and 66 strength of body, that you may long continue to fulfil your ministry with good success; of which, as we shall be rejoiced to hear, so you will always find us ready to succour you in whatever may tend to promote your "work, and to excite your zeal. We assure you of the "continuance of our royal favour.

"Given at our Palace of Hampton "Court, the 23d of August, r A. D. 1717, in the 4th year ❝ of our reign."

"GEORGE R.

The King continued to cherish, with much solicitude, the interests of the mission, after the death of Ziegenbalgius; and in ten years from the date of the foregoing letter, a second was addressed to the members of the mission, by his Majesty.

“Reverend and beloved,

"From your letters dated Tranquebar, the 12th of “September, 1725, which some time since came to hand, "we received much pleasure; since by then we are inform❝ed, not only of your zealous exertions in the prosecu❝tion of the work committed to you, but also of the happy success which hath hitherto attended it, and which hath "been graciously given of God.

66

“We return you thanks for these accounts, and it will "be acceptable to us, if you continue to communicate "whatever shall occur in the progress of your mission.

“In the mean time, we pray you may enjoy strength “of body and mind for the long continuance of your “labours in this good work, to the glory of God, and the promotion of Christianity among the heathens; that its “perpetuity may not fail in generations to come.*

"GEORGE R.

"Given at our Palace at St. James's,

"the 23d of February, 1727, in

"the 13th year of our Reign."

Niecampius, Hist. Mss.

But these Royal Epistles are not the only evangelic documents, of high authority, in the hands of the Hindoos. They are in possession of letters written by the Archbishop of Canterbury, of the same reign;* who supported the interests of the mission with unexampled liberality, affection, and zeal. These letters, which are many in number, are all written in the Latin language. The following is a translation of his Grace's first letter; which appears to have been written by him as President of the "Society for "promoting Christian Knowledge."

"To Bartholomew Ziegenbalgius, and John Earnest "Grundlerus, Preachers of the Christian faith, on the "Coast of Coromandel.

"As often as I behold your letters, Reverend Brethren, "addressed to the venerable Society instituted for the

promotion of the gospel, whose chief honour and ❝ ornament ye are; and as often as I contemplate the "light of the Gospel, either now first rising on the "Indian nations, or after the intermission of some ages ❝again revived, and as it were restored to its inheri"tance; I am constrained to magnify that singular 66 goodness of God in visiting nations so remote; "and to account you, my Brethren, highly honoured, whose ministry it hath plea ed him to employ in

Archbishop Wake.

46. this pious work, to the glory of his name, and the "salvation of so many millions of souls.

"Let others indulge in a ministry, if not idle, "certainly less laborious, among Christians at home "Let them enjoy in the bosom of the Church, titles "and honours obtained, without labour and without "danger. Your praise it will be (a praise of endless <duration on earth, and followed by a just recompense "in heaven) to have laboured in the vineyard which "yourselves have planted; to have declared the name "of Christ, where it was not known before : and through "much peril and difficulty to have converted to the "faith those among whom ye afterwards fulfilled your "ministry. Your province, therefore, Brethren, your "office, I place before all dignities in the Church. "Let others be Pontiffs, Patriarchs, or Popes; let them

every

glitter in purple, in scarlet, or in gold; let them seek "the admiration of the wondering multitude, and receive "obeisance on the bended knee. Ye have acquired a "better name than they, and a more sacred fame. And "when that day shall arrive when the chief Shepherd "shall give toy man according to his work, a greater "reward shall be adjudged to you. Admitted into "the glorious society of the Prophets, Evangelists, and "Apostles, ye, with them shall shine, like the sun 16 among the lesser stars, in the kingdom of your Father, "for ever.

"Since then so great honour is now given unto "you by all competent judges on earth, and since "so great reward is laid up for you in heaven; go

"forth with alacrity to that work, to the which the Holy "Ghost hath called you. God hath already given to 66 you an illustrious pledge of his favour, an increase not "to be expected without the aid of his grace. Ye have "begun happily, proceed with spirit. He, who hath "carried you safely through the dangers of the seas "to such a remote country, and who hath given you "favour in the eyes of those whose countenance ye most "desired; he who hath so liberally and unexpectedly "ministered unto your wants, and who doth now daily "add members to your Church; he will continue to "prosper your endeavours, and will subdue unto himself, "by your means, the whole Continent of Oriental India.

"O happy men! who, standing before the tribunal "of Christ, shall exhibit so many nations converted "to his faith by your preaching; happy men! to "whom it shall be given to say before the assembly of "the whole human race, Behold us, O Lord, and the ❝children whom thou hast given us ;' happy men! who "being justified by the Saviour, shall receive in that "day the reward of your labours, and also shall hear "that glorious encomium; Well done, good and "faithful servants, enter ye into the joy of your "Lord.'

"May Almighty God graciously favour you and "your labours in all things. May he send to your aid "fellow-labourers, such and as many as ye wish. May ❝he increase the bounds of your Churches. May he "open the hearts of those to whom ye preach the