The Hindu Professor

PROFESSOR Gopal Chandra Shastri, M.A., a distinguished Oriental scholar and Hindu preacher, thus speaks:— "I was, up to the year 1890, a great enemy of Christianity. In my popular Hindi book on the superiority of Hinduism I wrote in the beginning of the year 1890 to the following effect: ' Call me a dishonorable Hindu, and I will bear that with resignation; but do not call me a Christian, however good and great that word may be. Christianity is a term repugnant to my feelings and shocking to my ideas. No man can make me a Christian.'
"But I, the same Gopal Chandra of the Hindus, who was a staunch and strong enemy of Christ in the year 1886, am now a follower of Christ Jesus in the year 1896! My hard heart is converted, the stubborn unbelief is removed, and the grace of God is stealing downward, like the dew of heaven, in silence and unseen. During the past three years I carefully read many books bearing upon Christianity, and became convinced of its truth.
“I am now a new man in Christ Jesus, and I can now happily hold my life as of no value, for our dear Lord and Savior’s service.
“There are times when the heart will, and must, speak for itself; but my poor pen cannot give adequate vent to the feelings of my awakened heart. May our Almighty Father give me more light to know more of Christ Jesus and Him crucified.
“The Book of Books has alone converted me; it was not in the power of any man to convert me into Christianity. May the Book convert many millions like me!”
Our Leper Fund
THIS will be the last time we shall be able to lay before you the case of the poor lepers of India, and now also of Japan, so earnestly taken up by Mr. and Mrs. Bailey, 17, Greenhill Place, Edinburgh. We have been enabled by your kindness to send annually various sums of money on behalf of these poor sufferers; and now we ask you to kindly forward your contributions to Mrs. Bailey direct.
The sufferings of these terribly afflicted people cannot be expressed; but the joy which so many of them have in Christ the Savior is deep indeed.
Thus from CALCUTTA we have the story of Bella David:—
Mr. Bailey visited Bella David on several occasions, and always delighted her heart by speaking with her in her own beloved Hindustani. He last saw her in January, 1896, when he found her in a dreadful condition physically. He says of that visit: " Bella is now in a fearful condition—blind, her voice quite gone (she speaks only in a husky whisper), and her throat very much affected —at times she almost suffocates.... When I was pointing out some texts to Bella, she said to me, 'You gave me a text when you were last here [five years ago], which I remember quite well.' I said, 'What was it? ‘She replied, ' As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.'”
Mr. Stark, of the C.M.S., in writing of her death, says: " Both my wife and I had seen her the day before. As usual in the cold season she was suffering from bronchitis, and was scarcely able to speak; her voice was a mere hiss. She could not lie down, but was propped up with pillows. Her dear and faithful friend, Mrs. Nelson (herself a leper), attended her most devotedly. They sent for us at dawn, and we went at once, but her spirit had left for the presence of the Lord.
All the women, and several of the men, followed her remains to the cemetery. We buried her in the Mission burial-ground. She was much loved. Her bright and patient life, in the midst of excessive bodily pain, was evidence of her faith and joy in the Lord.”
Again, from the AMBALA Home, the gracious testimony of Bahadur reaches us:—
Bahadur was one of the little flock of Christian lepers whom Mr. Bailey had under his care at Ambala.
“In Bahadur we have all lost an affectionate friend, a zealous helper, and the brightest ornament of the little church here. It will be very hard, if not impossible, to find anyone to fill the place which he occupied. He was trusted and beloved by all classes alike, and it was a grand testimony to him that both Hindus and Moslems used frequently to call on him to arbitrate in matters of dispute which arose amongst themselves. His funeral was attended by not a few non-Christians, and it was very touching to see them offer marks of respect to the deceased, while it was most encouraging to hear one after another bear testimony to his godly life.
“Only four days before his death, he, with a dozen or so of his fellow Christians, was helping me as usual in my weekly efforts to influence the non-Christian inmates of the asylum, and I shall not soon forget the faithful testimony which he then bore to the saving power of Jesus. His soul seemed to burn within him with a holy jealousy for his Lord and Master.”
Once an English traveler, in addressing the Christian lepers, said that it was probably a mystery to them why they were afflicted above other men; he counseled them not to lose heart, but to trust in the all-merciful and wise Father, and to believe that in the light of God's presence they would know the "why and wherefore" of His dealings with them now. To this Bahadur replied that for himself the mystery was already solved by the "joy of the Lord" which filled his soul. "Before I became a leper," said he, "I was utterly godless; but my affliction drove me to an asylum where I heard of Christ, and by grace I was led to accept Him, and He has given me something infinitely more precious than mere bodily health and strength." It was he, too, who, in reply to an inquiry if the sufferers were looking for the return of Jesus, said, "Yes, and He may come today.”
Our readers will like to hear a word or two respecting the PURULIA Home, to which their gifts were first of all sent. It prospers and bears fruit:—
“On last Sunday I saw that our chapel is too small. It is 25 feet broad and 52 feet long, but it was filled from one end to the other. I believe if you had been present you would really have enjoyed the service, seeing the lepers listening to the Gospel; no eyes were going hither or thither. I had the subject of the prodigal son, a story mostly unknown to them: they bowed down their faces as if they would say, ‘I am the one.'”
“A number of the new corners, when they see what there is going on in the asylum, at first refuse to heat the Gospel, and refuse to come to church. By and bye they come nearer, and sit outside; then they do a step further, and come close to the door; next they sit at the door; then they do the last step, and enter in and begin to listen to the Gospel.”
The work in Japan is just opening up. From TOKIO we hear as follows:—
Miss Youngman, in one of her bright, interesting letters, speaks of the enlargement of the buildings. "The frame is up, and the building will be ready in about three weeks. No sooner did we begin to enlarge than applications began to come in from all quarters. All the cases are so sad and so worthy that we cannot find it in our hearts to say no, yet we are now spending more than we are receiving.... We cannot look for much increase in our Japanese contributions, so what are we going to do if you do not send us more money?
“If we enter these new applicants we shall need £200 a year instead of £100. Will not the Lord give it to us now that He has sent these poor afflicted ones to us? Four of them are already Christians.”
We earnestly hope that all who have hitherto contributed to these leper homes through the pages of FAITHFUL WORDS will henceforth do so direct. To the children of the Sunday-schools, both in America, Canada, and England—whose gifts it has ever been so great a pleasure for us to transmit to Mrs. Bailey—we give our affectionate greetings and farewell. May each of you know for himself and herself that Jesus has indeed given you perfect healing from the leprosy of sin and perfect fitness for His holy presence!
The Golden Thread
THE glory of the coming kingdom of God has been briefly touched on in the earlier pages of this volume. Our pages are nearly at their end, and we can but add a few words on the ever-joyful theme. In one way or another almost every book of the Bible contains references to the coming of the Lord Jesus—whether to His coming to earth to suffer and to die, or to His coming in power and glory to judge and to rule. Unless we apprehend this fact, we are necessarily at a loss in understanding the Word of God. The divine plan respecting man and this earth is the display of divine glory; and the effecting of this is committed to the Man of God's right hand—His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Where man has persistently sinned away the privileges and honors committed to him, Christ will re-establish those privileges and honors to the glory of God, and in a fresh and more excellent way.
We live in an age in which the scriptures which foretold Christ's coming to this earth in humiliation, have been fulfilled. It would be almost possible to place side by side the history of Christ's life as presented in the gospels with the prophetic words relative to His life. Minutely and perfectly the word of prophecy has been realized. Such a fact should create, at least, a little feeling of propriety in those who deny the foretelling of God's Word; while, to the believer in inspiration, it is absolute proof that those scriptures which speak of that which is still future, will be in their time also distinctly fulfilled.
The root prophecy concerning the kingdom may be said to be God's word to the serpent respecting the woman's Seed: "It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." The latter part of that word was fulfilled when our Lord—the Incarnate One, the Son of Man—died upon the cross. The former part of the word remains to be fulfilled, and this will take place amongst the last things described in the Word of God.
The Christian is looking forward to the fulfillment of the Lord's word: "Surely I come quickly," and its gracious result to him, for when Christ comes, we shall be like Him, and we shall enter into the Father's presence with Him. All the saints will rise from among the dead, and all will compose the one redeemed family before God and the Lamb.
There is, however, much, very much, yet to be accomplished in reference to Christ's coming. We do well, in our day of priestly assumption, to consider the Lord as the High Priest in heaven, and to remember that He will come forth as Priest "the second time without sin unto salvation," even as the high priest of Israel, after he had made atonement before God, came forth to bless expectant Israel which waited for him. When Christ comes to this earth in His glory, priesthood will be seen in its due place on earth, and it will be invested with peculiar glory.
And thus will it also be regarding the kingly glories of the Lord. The princes and kings of the earth are not celebrated for devotion to God. The Lord will reign to God's glory and to the earth's blessing. The poor shall be satisfied, and peace shall prevail. Then the earth, already offering to man new wonders from her bosom, shall "yield her increase" in all fullness, and, in a way hitherto unknown, man shall replenish and subdue it.
When man is fully blessed upon the earth, the animals shall reap the result, and this creation shall enjoy the effects of "the glorious liberty of the children of God."
And what shall be said as to righteousness, in reference to Christ's coming? This is a most fruitful theme of Scripture. The Lord will be not only Priest and King in His glory on earth—He will be Judge. He will purge out of the kingdom all things that offend and do iniquity, and His rule will be established in equity.
In like manner the eternal state will be ushered in by the Judge taking His seat upon the throne. Righteousness, eternal righteousness, will be established, and eternal love will reign.
To pursue the golden thread throughout Scripture is a profitable study, and it is highly interesting to note the variety of blessings which are yet awaiting their fulfillment at the coming of Christ. It would occupy many pages such as this to enumerate them. The reader will find a profitable and enjoyable occupation in the effort to do so, and one which will lead his heart upward to the Coming One.
The Entrance of Christianity Into Britain
BEFORE speaking of the attitude of the British bishops towards the Romish bishop in England, let us further remark upon the nature of the Christianity which Augustine brought into the land. We have already stated he could give only that which he had, and we certainly believe he gave to the pagan English the best of what he had. But his best was poor Gospel fare! Relic worship, and such shameful departures from Scripture truth and the honor due to the living God, which he brought with him, testify to the corrupted Christianity of his mission. Perhaps the silver cross, and the board painted with the image of Christ, which he bore before him, express as forcibly as can be the exaltation of the cross above Christ, and the rebellion against the commandments of God, which in his day had already degraded the Church. And these things Augustine carried with all ecclesiastical ceremony, with procession and singing, for the purpose of converting the English. What Augustine had in his own heart of Christ's Gospel as regards salvation, may best be understood by the fact that his monks prayed for their own salvation as they appeared before the pagan king. Their idea of salvation was, therefore, based upon ignorance of such passages of Scripture as these: "According to His mercy He saved us"; "By grace ye are saved"; and of the apostolic teaching: " I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved."
Pope Gregory himself was no more enlightened than they. Having been asked by a noble lady if he could give any satisfactory information as to her obtaining the forgiveness of her sins, he answered: "Certainty in this matter is not attainable; we must repent and mourn over our sins and apply for pardon continually." With these facts before us, it is difficult to understand how Augustine could be a messenger of "glad tidings of good things," or how he could have told the pagan English— as God-sent evangelists are privileged to do— "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Looking at Pope Gregory and Augustine from the standpoint of Roman clerical ambition, their success with the English was all that could be desired. Pagans were made Christians, by baptism, in thousands, and bishops of the Romish Church were appointed and held authority in England. But the conversion of the British Church to Papal rule was not so easy as that of baptizing the pagans into Christianity. The converted pagans could and did transfer their professed allegiance to Christ back again to their false gods at their list; but the conversion demanded of the British Church would allow of no such compromise—it contained unqualified submission to the Pope.
There were conferences between the Romish, or English, bishops and the British bishops as to union of the Churches. And it is an interesting fact—and one which seems to bring these ancient efforts on to the same platform as those of our own times—that the British bishops stated that the doctrine which Augustine preached was the truth. This seems like very much that is now said by the sacerdotalists in the Church of England. They profess that what the Roman Church teaches is the truth. But, added the British bishops of Augustine's days, they could not, without the consent or agreement of their nation, quit their ancient customs! These differed in certain respects from the customs of the Romish Church. Baptism was not administered exactly in the same way, neither was Easter kept at the same period; and, further, their respective monks did not shave their heads in the same manner. However, as "a little chink lets in much light," so a little story of the time helps us to see into the reason for the hesitation of the Britons in uniting themselves with the English in things religious.
The British bishops were very much perplexed, the story runs, as to what they should do and after one of their conferences with Augustine they resorted to a famous hermit to obtain advice. He bade them act thus: If when they next waited upon Augustine he should rise to greet them, they should accept him as a humble man sent by God; but if, on the contrary, he should remain seated, they should regard him as coming amongst them to obtain the mastership over them.
Augustine did not rise to meet them. It could not be forgotten how he had made obeisance to the pagan king on his arrival; but as he was the Pope's archbishop, to whom had been given the supremacy over the British Church, he retained his seat, his chair, his emblematic throne! This decided the question in the eyes of the British bishops. And, oddly enough, it is one of those incidents which Roman Catholic writers cannot understand! All they can perceive in it are the willful obduracy and un-Christian spirit of the British Church.
History repeats itself, for, practically speaking, the Pope and his cardinals have retained their seat during the late agitation on the Orders of the Anglican Church, and other matters. They have retained the old position of their predecessors, requiring everyone to bow before the Pope, and to submit to his supremacy. And the Britons of today have acted as did the British bishops of Augustine's time. They have objected to the union of Christendom on these terms!
The English came under the influence of the Christianity of the era before us, by degrees. Sometimes whole districts became Christian and then relapsed into paganism, at length to become Christian again. And after some sixty years Christianity was triumphant. The British Church, as such, fell slowly under the greater power of the English Church; and in the eighth century the Roman Catholic faith was predominant. How far the influence of the zealous British missionaries was extinguished it is hard to say. Some consider that the Scottish love of the Bible may be traced back to the times of Columba and his successors. In Wales the British Church is considered to preserve its continuity from the earliest centuries of the Christian era. Certainly we may all acknowledge that our favored land owes very much of its present Christian liberty and love of the Scriptures to the prayers of the early Church in these islands. Equally certain it is that the Christian prosperity of England exists only when Britons make the Word of God their rule of faith.