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well confirm his assertion, that the gods of many villages are re- 

 presented by a shapeless stone. 



Since my return from India, 1 have been often asked by men 

 skilled in political and commercial knowledge, yet seemingly 

 io-norant of the inestimable benefits of Christianity, why we should 

 convert the Hindoos; why not leave them as we found them? Such 

 questions are easily answered; but at present I will only ask why 

 the compilers of that fine prayer, which forms part of the esta- 

 blished liturgy of the English churches in Hindostan, inserted this 

 petition, " Give to us, and to all thy servants whom thy Provi- 

 " dence hath placed in these remote parts of the world, grace to 

 "discharge our several duties with piety towards thee our God; 

 "loyalty towards our king; fidelity and diligence towards those 

 " by whom we are employed; kindness and love towards one 

 " another, and sincere charity towards all men; that, we adorning 

 " the gospel of our Lord and Saviour in all things, these Indian 

 " nations among whom we dwell, beholding our good works, may 

 " be won over to the love of our most holy religion, and glorify 

 " thee, our Father which art in heaven!'' 



Let us then hope, and by every gentle means endeavour to 

 realize the hope, that at no very distant period the Hindoos may 

 have a knowledge of those scriptures where the God of truth and 

 holiness is revealed in characters becoming his glorious attributes, 

 especially in the gospel of Jesus Christ, where mercy and justice 

 meet together in the atonement made for a guilty world. Instead 

 of being absorbed in their mystical reveries, may the brahmins feel 

 the influence of the Holy Spirit, in opposition to the endless laby- 



