Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/320

276 twinkled in the sky, a daring insult to God, a homage paid to a senseless stone in the very sight of his visible heavens. Blessed be God that he will vindicate his high and holy name; that he hath given to his Son the heathen for an inheritance, and the uttermost part of the earth for a possession!

Nowhere had I seen India in so pleasing an aspect, and never had I felt more anxious that preachers of the gospel should be scattered through the land. There are in this region hundreds and thousands of villages entirely open to the missionary, with none to let or make him afraid. The constant succession of large companies of hearers probably would not continue, but in all respects the field would be completely open and ready for the Christian labourer; not to reap the harvest at his entrance upon the field, but to sow and water the seed, with the expectation of soon rejoicing in sheaves gathered into the garner of the Lord.

Not the Sudras only, but some of the Brahmins also, seemed to relish the keen exposures of heathenism which they heard from Mr. S. They listened in the best possible humour; and when a difficulty raised was parried, or the light of truth disclosed the absurdity of their