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tributes to his memory , , Dr . Heber cannot have been otherwise than an excellent and virtuous man , a conscientious performer of his ministerial duties , And a zealous advocate of the cause of Ghriatianity . There is a document , however , printed in an appendix to this Sermon , which , however creditable to the Bishop's ingenuity , and however curious
in itself , we cannot consider either very judicious or very charitable in its spirit , A Bishop bringing the glad tidings of the gospel into a heathen land from a remote corner of the earth , does not act , perhaps , with very good policy in charging two-thirds of the professors of the faith he wishes to recommend , with crimes of the deepest dye . " Beautiful
are the feet of fliose which bring glad tidings of good that publish peace ; " but they must bring kind and charitable feelings , or their professions are an empty sound ; and so thinking , we feel that the worthy Bishop would have acted better if he had kept his tongue from slandering his neighbours , still more from imputing to them the sins of their forefathers .
This singular document is a letter addressed by him in a mixture of scriptural and Eastern style , to the Archbishop of the Christians of St . Thomas , whose history Dr . Buchanan has illustrated . Mar Athanasius was in Bombay qn his road from Autioch to take possession of \ na See , and was hospitably received by Dr . Heber .
" Vo the excellent aujl learned Father Mar Athanasius , Bishop and Metropolitan of all the Churches of Christ ju India , which walk after the rule of the Syrians—]\ lar Reginald , by the grace of God Bishop of Cafccut £ a ,-r-Grace , JMercy , and Peace , froni God the father , and our hovd Je&u * Christ .
"I have earnestly desired , honoured jtjrotner in the Lorq , to J ^ ear of thy safe passage from Bombay , and of thy health and welfare in the land pf Malabar . I hope that they h $ ve rejoiced ai thy coming , even as they rejoiced at the coming of Mar Baailiu . s , Mar Gregorius . and M&t Johannes . * And it is my prayer to Qoii , that He who led our Father Abia-
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• " The last Syrian Bishops ( before Mar Athanasius in 1825 ) who went to rule the Church in Malabar in 1751 ; all the Metropolitans after them ( called Mar Dlonysius ; or Clyrillusj or Philoxenus , severally ) being Indian Bishops of their ordaining . " *
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bam the beloved from the land of his nativity , through faith , to a strange and distant country , may in like manner guide , protect , and prosper the « , ' in health and grace , and every good gift , in the love of thy people , and the spiritual fruit which tjiou shalt receive of them ; as it is written , ' Commit thy way unto the Lord , and trust in Him : and He shall bring it to pass . '
" Especially , 1 have been desirous to hear from thee of the good estate of our brethren , the faithful in Malabar , the bishops , presbyters , and deacons ; and also of my own children in Christ , the English presbyters who sojourn among you at Cottayam ; may God reward you for your love towards them , and may the good-will which is between you be daily established and strengthened !
" Furthermore , I will you to know , my brother , that the desire of my heart and ray prayer to the Lord is , that the holy name of Jesus may be yet further known amojug all nations ; and also , that all who love Him may love one another ; to the intent that they which are without , beholding the unity and peace that \ $ among you , may glorify God also in the day of their visitation , Lijke as was
the desire and prayer of the fcoly Bishop Thomas Middleton , my honoured predecessor in , thjg ministry ; whose pjiempry is blessed amopg the saints of Christ , whether they be of the English or the Syrian family ; not that there are two families , but one , which bpth in heaven and earth ig named after His name who eitteth at the right hand of God , in whoni ail nations , tribes and languages , are united aud shall be glorified together .
v I also pray thee to write me word bow thyself an 4 they that are with t ^ ee fare , and how my own children the English presbyters rare , and in what man- ; ner of conversation they walk wjith you , Furthermore , it is my hope , that by God ' s blessing , I may be strengthened shortly to pass to Madras , Tanjore , and Trichinopp ) y , visiting the churches there
which belong to my nation ; whence my mind is , if God will , to pass on to salute thee , my brother , and the churches under thee , that J may have joy beholding your order , and partaking iu your prayers ^ And if tjiere be any thing more , it may be explained when we meet ; for ** letter is half an Interview , but it is a goo 4 time when a man speaketh face to face with his friend .
" This letter ia sent by the hand of a learned and godly man , John Dorau , one of the presbyters before me ; who
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1827, page 286, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1795/page/54/
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