315 



all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest! 

 Blessed are ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven!" 



From the preceding passages it clearly appears, that a large 

 part of the Hindoos are not only kept in ignorance, but are abso- 

 lutely compelled to idol worship, and the darkness of paganism. 

 It is probable I exalt them too highly, when I say it places the 

 Hindoos in the condition of the Greeks and Romans, at that 

 period when the Sun of Righteousness arose with healing on his 

 wings, to dispel the darkness in which those elegant nations were 

 enveloped; to whom the truths of Christianity were commanded 

 to be preached, that they might turn from darkness to light, and 

 from the power of Satan unto God ! Instead of worshipping Jupi- 

 ter, Minerva, and Diana, they were to adore the great Jehovah; 

 the balmy comforts of the gospel were to reach their hearts; by a 

 living faith in the merits and mediation of a crucified Redeemer, 

 they were to enjoy a holy intercourse with the greatest and best of 

 beings, and to be at length admitted to his beatific presence, where 

 alone there is fulness of joy, and at whose right hand there is 

 pleasure for evermore ! 



Sir William Jones has been frequently mentioned in these me- 

 moirs with the admiration, esteem, and respect due to his memory. 

 I must here introduce him in another point of view, and express 

 his sentiments on the conversion of the Hindoos, and the other 

 subjects which form the basis of this conclusive chapter. They 

 will be given chiefly in his own words, or those of Lord Teign- 

 mouth, his most excellent biographer; whose opinion on these 

 sublime and interesting truths were so congenial to his own exalted 



