40 



CEYLON BRANCH 



The Rev, Simon Cat was day and night employed in 

 Singhalese ; he had translated part of the gospel of Mathew; 

 and was now making preparations for the seminary ; his Sin- 

 ghalese dictionary was completed, but his age being more than 

 60 years, prevented his going on so successfully as to meet the 

 demand. A Tamil version was completed of the Epistle of 

 James ; and of the Acts up to the 14th chapter. 



In 1693 three ministers arrived, of whom one devoted 

 himself to the seminary, and the others went to live in the 

 country for the sake of greater facility in acquiring Singhalese. 

 One was removed from Jaffna to Tranquebar, another from 

 Cochin to Colombo. In 1695 Marinus Mazius, an eminently 

 useful man, had reached his 80th year, and was allowed to 

 retire from service, but continued to attend the consistory 

 meeting and assist his brethren with his experience of Indian 

 Churches. The Rev. Mr. Ruel was preaching in Portuguese 

 and also attending 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 re- 

 lieved 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 persons out 

 of the seminary, of sufficient ability, and of irreproachable life 

 as proponents or even ministers, who could with more/suc- 

 cess and effect preach in their own tongue the wonderful works 



