Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/198

170 a way by which voyagers sinking in the sea of sin might reach the heavenly shore. As I told them of his incarnation and his works, his atonement, and the hand outstretched to save the lost, an aged man in the crowd, who knew something of Christianity, took up my discourse and carried it on for me—“Yes! yes! the Lord, becoming man, suffered and died for us. He is now glorious in heaven; he can never die. He suffered for our sins; he atoned for all sins—they are all wiped out; he is the Saviour, we are saved, our sins are gone: I need not be anxious: you need not be anxious. What then do you come here and talk for?” Confessing that my imperfect Tamil did not do justice to the theme, I said that on so great, so vital a matter as that of salvation, I could not be silent; that as far as I was able, I must speak. Answering his question, I again spoke of the deliverance brought by Christ; it was to tell of this that I had come to them; that this was not my country, it was far distant; why then should I leave my native land and my father's house? “Yes, why did you leave your father's house?” broke in one of the company, in an insolent tone. "I will tell you," I replied.” “No! I can tell,” he again broke in. “Do you not