Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/397

345 home. Finding that they did not stir, the messenger was sent a second time with a weighty stick, which he applied to the bare shoulders of the disobedient. This, however, did not restrain the power of the truth to enter and affect the hearts of his flock, many of whom listened earnestly to the words of life.

Through evil report and good report, sometimes persecuted and beaten, he continued to bear witness to Christ among the heathen. Many were converted through his efforts, of whom some were deeply interesting persons. He did not only labour in public; he was much in secret prayer; hence his success.

In the year 1827 he removed from Bangalore to Bellary, a city of 50,000 inhabitants, in the Balaghaut. Here he laboured as at Bangalore, seeking to do good to all; nor did God withhold his blessing. About a year and a half after his arrival, he wrote to a pious officer at Madras: “I am happy that I can inform you that the Lord has blessed my endeavours to preach his gospel at this place. When I first came here, there were only four native Christians, (communicants, but now there are more than twenty in church-fellowship, and the congregation is more than a hundred and forty."