Old Testament; but though I have long devoted nearly all my time to that work, I have found it so heavy, and my health so poor, that though near the goal, I cannot yet say I have attained." A single month longer and the noble work was done! O, it was a sight which angels might have stooped down from heaven to gaze upon with the deepest interest, to see that devoted man of God, after his long years of toil, on his knees in that room where he had so long studied, and wept, and prayed over this work, with the last leaf of Burmah's Bible in his hand, and to witness the thrill of holy rapture which glistened in his eyes and glowed in every feature, as, rising from his knees, he seized his pen and wrote the following record of this day, so memorable in the history of Burmah: January 31, 1834 : THANKS BE TO GOD, I CAN NOW SAY, I HAVE ATTAINED! I have knelt down before Him, with the last leaf in my hand, and, imploring His forgiveness for all the sins which have polluted my labors in this department, and His aid in future efforts to remove the errors and imperfections which necessarily cleave to the work; I have commended it to His mercy and grace: I have dedicated it to His glory. MAY HE MAKE HIS OWN INSPIRED WORD, NOW COMPLETE IN THE BURMAN TONGUE, THE GRAND INSTRUMENT OF FILLING ALL BURMAH WITH SONGS AND PRAISES то OUR GREAT GOD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST! AMEN." Come hither, now, ye despisers of the Bible and of the cross! Contemplate the spectacle that is here presented, and say is there nothing in a religion which can prompt to deeds like this? Is there nothing in that constraining love of Christ, which thus sweetly draws its possessor to tread in the footsteps of HIM who forgave his enemies, and prayed for his murderers, thus exemplifying the heavenly lesson he taught, to return blessing for cursing, and good for evil. - Jesus, the Master, was rejected and despised; He was scourged, and buffeted, and crucified, by those whom He came to benefit and to save; and He gave His murderers, in return, His prayers, His forgiveness, His BLOOD-His sin-atoning blood. Judson, the servant, looked, at humble distance at the blessed example of his Lord and Master. The love of Christ constrained him. The Burmans, to benefit whom he left the endearments of country and of home, inflicted on him tortures, and fetters, and bonds, and imprisonment; and he gave them, in return, THE BIBLE ! - after long years of study, of toil, and of weariness -THE FAITHFULLY TRANSLATED BIBLE! GOD'S WORD FOR THE HEATHEN. REV. JOSHUA MARSHMAN. "On the 7th day of February, 1804, Mr. Ward, of Serampore, writes This day, we have finished composing the New Testament in Bengalee,' translated by Dr. Carey. It was a suitable occasion for a meeting of thanksgiving, which the missionaries held accordingly, and the native converts united with them."—Dr. Cox's History of the Mission, p. 41. It was on this occasion that the following lines, by one of the missionaries, was composed and sung: Hail! precious book divine! We rise from death and sin, And tune a Saviour's praise; We bless the God of grace To this bewildered race, So long in darkness held; Now shall the Hindus learn Nor to blind gurus turn, Nor idol praises sing; Diffusing heavenly light around, This book their Shasters shall confound. Deign, gracious Saviour, deign Salvation from the Lord; WELCOME TO JUDSON IN 1830. WILLIAM B. TAPPAN. At the annual meeting of the Baptist Board of Missions, at Hartford, in 1830, a resolution had been passed, affectionately and earnestly inviting this beloved missionary to revisit his native land. It was in anticipation of his compliance, and previous to the reception of his answer, declining the invitation, that the following lines were written. Welcome to thee! long lapse of time Hath come and glanced and gone between; Since thou for yonder idol clime, A wanderer from our coasts wast seen. Of toil and watchings nigh to death, And bonds, we've heard, 'mid wrathful foes; We wept, when persecution's rod Well hath he owned the men of toil, - Foes to their ease, the friends of manWho gather souls, a precious spoil, From Burmah and from Indostan. The breezes thence have flung along Her pagan sons are bowed in prayer. Welcome to thee-thou wilt not leave More mothers, taught aright to pray, Will lead them to the Great and Good. And stilled some little orphan's moans, * A dialect of the Sanscrit, rich and harmonious, now a dead language. Malte Brun affirms that the Pali is the language of religion. |