ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



29 



hundreds professing Roman Catholicism. On native Chris- 

 tians the following remarks occurs : — 



" The reason why we designate the Native Christians, by 

 the name of nominal or baptized Christians, is because there 

 is reason to apprehend that many profess Christianity from 

 worldly motives, to derive advantages from the Christian 

 Government, and such like other worldly views, rather than 

 from sincere love to the truth and the Christian religion and 

 for their salvation, not unlike those, who, under the first Chris- 

 tian Emperor when Christanity began to have ascendancy in 

 the world, forsook heathenism and embraced it. Nevertheless 

 we believe, and, as far as we can judge from appearances in 

 the spirit of charity, are assured by the experience of many 

 years, that among the multitude there are many sincere hearts 

 who in knowledge, and love of the truth have embraced Chris- 

 tianity, seeking their salvation solely in the obedience and death 

 of our Lord Jesus Christ. But at the same time it is unques- 

 tionable that among us in this Island Native Christianity in 

 the gross is in a very tender and weak state ; but who will 

 despise the day of small things ? Baptism we administer with 

 all caution and circumspection. Against devil-worship and 

 heathenish superstitions practised in some places the Governor 

 in Council has issued good orders and placards, whereby as 

 much as possible such practices are prevented, as also against 

 the public superstitious practices of popery, to which some are 

 still strongly attached." 



About this time the Batavian Clergy put the question to 

 their brethren in Ceylon whether the Portuguese language as 

 a medium for the purposes of religion be necessary and useful. 

 The latter replied, that as it was a language commonly spoken 

 in the Island, especially in the Colombo district, its more 

 general adoption would be productive of great good ; and that 



