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" There are numerous intelligent natives , who thirst after European knowledge and literature , but not many who Tviah to be made acquainted with the
Christian religion , and to examine its truth , being chiefly deterred by the difficulty ( if not utter impossibility ) attached to the acquirement of a correct notion of the tremendous nvvstical doctrines which
the Missionaries ascribe to their religion . " —P . 137 . 2 . If any think that such culture is not necessary in order to bring them to the Trinitarian views of Christianity , we have only to refer them to the Correspondence for proof that
Trinitarianism never can become prevalent in Hindoostan ; and that nothing has been accomplished which <; an justify the hope that it will . Even in that department where most appeared to have been done , viz . the Translations of the Scriptures , great as have been the exertions of Dr .
Carey and others , they appear to have hitherto been almost fruitless ; and , indeed , Rammohun Roy expresses his conviction that no advantage can be expected from the translations in circulation . The translators did not
correctly appreciate the difficulties of their undertaking s nor was there any adequate benefit to be derived from them in so early & period of Mission * ary success . It would have been much better to have devoted all the labour
and expense in preparing * the minds of the Hindoos for Christianity . The statements of Rammohun Roy , who was for a considerable time engaged in th 6 transiatioa of the New lestatnent , in conjunction with Mr . Adam and Mr . Yates another Baptist Missionary , must shew the difficulties which one who is not a native
necessarily has to encounter : < c Notwithstanding our exertions , we were obliged to leave the accurate translation of several phrases to fliture consideration , and for my own part I felt discontented with the translation adopted of several passages , though I tried frequently , when alone at home , to select
more eligible expressions , and applied to native friends for their aid for that purpose . 1 beg to assure you , that I ( though a native of this country ) do not recollect having engaged myself once , during my life , in so difficult : a task , aa the translation of the New Testament into Bengallee . "—P . 139 . We will now return to Mr . Adam ' s
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portion of the Correspondence . With the power now in the hands of all to examine ; the pamphlet for themselves , it is not neceasary to consider in detail its varied , information ; and we will confine our further selections from it
principally to the two following points : What are the prospects of the gospel in Hindoostan ? and , By what meansare they to be realized ? We have already laid before our readers sufficient to enable them to judge what has actually been done . The general
result is , that few of those who have professed Christianity have done it from inquiry and conviction : and Mr . Adam declares , ( p . 57 , ) that he Jbas never been personally acquainted with any in whom he could repose unhesitating confidence ; and adds , that he has understood * that Dr . Carey has expressed himself to the same effect
respecting the native converts /* He afterwards says , ( p . 77 , ) " that perhaps three-fourths of the direct missionary exertions hitherto made , have been frittered away upon persons who have either disappointed all the expectations formed of them , or who have at best proved scarcely worthy the attention they have received . "
To the diffusion of Christianity in Hindoostan , there are three great obstacles . ( 1 . ) The character of the prevalent religion : ( 2 . ) The extreme ignorance of the great bulk of the natives : and ( 3 ) The influence of caste . In all probability , the last will diminish with the second 5 and in
proportion to the increased estimation in which the English are held for intellect and character , aided by the influence which they must possess as the predominant power . The character of the present prevalent religion is briefly and forcibly described by Mr . Adam , as follows :
€ C The popular is an idolatrous system most demoralizing in its influence , and of a highly complicated character : intimately uniting itself with all the relations and duties of a present life , and with all the hopes and fears of a future state ; thus arraying in its own defence every prejudice and passion that either dignifies or degrades human nature . "—P . 66 ,
In addition to the foregoing obstacles , the Trinitarian has to encounter some which to all appearance must be insurmountable , in proportion to the enlightenment of thfc natives . True it
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232 Occasional Notices of American Publications *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1825, page 232, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2535/page/40/
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