38 CEYLON BRANCH — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY* 



Rev. Mr. Ruel was preaching in Portuguese, and also attend* 

 ing to the Singhalese language ; in which he was able to read 

 and write. In order to make better progress he took up his 

 residence afterwards at Morottoo ; it being so arranged that his share 

 of pastoral duties in Dutch should be divided among the Colombo 

 ministers, who in turn were relieved of the inspection of schools 

 and native congregations by his taking that department entirely 

 upon himself. 



In a communication to the classis of North Holland, in 1695, 

 a passage occurs which is worthy of insertion. " And now to 

 say something more of the difficulties which you see in raising 

 local ministers, we do not know why the Indian Churches should 

 not, with the sanction of Government, and no other impediments 

 presenting themselves, raise parsons out of the seminary, of suf- 

 ficient ability, and of irreproachable life, as proponents or even 

 ministers, who could with more success and effect preach in 

 their own tongue the wonderful works of God and Christ 

 crucified. None of our brethren but Mr. A. De Mey have 

 hitherto preached in Tamil with much benefit. 



We make this suggestion bee. use the Churches *in this and 

 other colonies are not entirely dependent on the Fatherland 

 Church, as the celebrated Geisbertus Voetsius Professor of the- 

 ology has amply pointed out in his politia theologia page 103 

 &c , in his reply to the question : whether the Netherland 

 Churches, because they first planted the Indian Churches, have 

 an abiding power to select ministers, and supply the Churches 

 which have already sprung up and to govern them with ab- 

 solute authority, as if these were destitute of all power or right 

 in this respect, and remained subject to and dependent upon 

 the Church of Netherland. The celebrated writer in favour of 

 the Colonial I hurches adduces his arguments from scripture, 

 from the primitive gentile churches planted by believers from 

 Judea, and from the principles of the Reformation. 



