CEYLON BRANCH—ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 151 



that we have hitherto cause to thank the goodness of the 

 Lord that it has pleased him to bless in such measure the 

 work of his servants that not only has the labour not been 

 in vain, but even fruitful in the Lord ; whereby heathens 

 are converted and people, who before sat in the thick darkness 

 of ignorance, idolatry and all manner of unrighteousness, 

 are brought to the light ; and thus are the borders of Jesus's 

 kingdom enlarged. We do not doubt but God, who once 

 declared that light would shine out of darkness, will hence- 

 forth shine in the hearts of these people to give them more 

 and more the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in 

 the face of Jesus Christ. To which end we also pray that 

 he may prosper the work of the hands of his servants, and 

 that it may please him to hasten the dawn of the promised 

 day when the fulness of the gentiles shall come, and all 

 Israel be saved. 



The proponent Adolphus Cramer continues still in Ne- 

 gombo, and applies himself with indefatigable zeal to the 

 Malabar language, in which he is so far advanced as to be 

 able to edify the natives with his sermons in their language, 

 which is accompanied not seldom with great success. He 

 perseveres also in his faithful ministry to the Dutch congre- 

 gation of that place. Wherefore we flatter ourselves with 

 the hope, that our request of last year in his behalf will be 

 successful and ere long favourably responded to. The Ma- 

 labar proponent J. Ignatius, who was appointed last year 

 over the Malabar Christians of Negombo, has since then 

 been removed to Jaffna, and his place been filled by the Jaff- 

 na proponent J. Philipsz, of whom we can say that since 

 his appointment there, he has attended tolerably well to his 

 duties. 



Behold Reverend brethren, what we have at present to 

 communicate respecting the state of churches and schools 

 and their concerns ; and as we have no doubt that you will 

 derive pleasure from it, so will we now conclude with pray- 

 ing to the most High that it may please him to strengthen 

 you with health and vigour and bless your labours, that 

 truth may thereby be more and more established and the 

 kingdom of God's Son enlarged. 



In sincere love and respect we remain, Reverend, godly 

 and learned Sirs and brethren, your obliged servants and 

 fellow labourers, 



The Consistory of Colombo* 

 Colombo, 19th November 1723. 



