CEY-LOK BRANCH — HOVAL ASIATIC SOC IETY. 143 



ed annual reports of the Synod — at another time that the 

 Batavia consistory were not bound to comply with such a 

 wish, intimating a superiority which excluded any obliga- 

 tion of that kind. This circumstance came to the know- 

 ledge of the Classis, by means of a remark in one of the 

 Batavia letters, that a coolness had existed between the two 

 parties. Of this the Classis enquired from the Colombo 

 consistory the cause. From the explanation given it ap- 

 pears that the coolness was imaginary on the part of the 

 Batavia consistory, for their not having received letters 

 was merely owing to a delay in the transport. The Co- 

 lombo consistory gave the Classis to understand that the 

 grievance came from their Batavian brethren. Two years 

 after, however, a letter of the consistory to the Classis dated 

 1733, states that they had received a satisfactory letter from 

 Batavia, giving an ample account of their operations and 

 the state of Christianity. 



There is a great similarity as to the leading features in 

 the letters written by the consistory to the civil and ec- 

 clesiastical authorities in the Netherlands. The following, 

 addressed to the Directors of the Dutch East India Com- 

 pany in Amsterdam dated 1738, may suffice as a specimen. 



To the High and Honble Gentlemen The Lords of the 

 Assembly of XVII Representatives of the General 

 Netherlands East India Company. 



Most Noble and Honble Lords, 



Although the kingdom of Jesus is not of this world, 

 and therefore can exist, yea triumph, upheld alone by His 

 Divine Omnipotence, yet it is most delightful and a subject 

 of special thanks for the lovers of Zion, when kings and 

 princes become its nursing fathers. For then is so much 

 the more lustre added to the gracious kingdom of Jesus ; 

 then are its borders so much the more enlarged ; then can 

 every one sit in peace under his own vine and fig tree. 

 Happy therefore they to whom it is allotted to lead a quiet 

 and peaceful life under the Government of pious Christian 

 rulers. Happy for Grod's church which can abide under 

 their wings, and behold the nobles of the nation brought 

 among the people of the Grod of Abraham, and the shields 

 of the earth become the Lord's. 



This blessing does not only our beloved and by Grod 



