A BACKSLIDING MISSIONARY. 47 
“ We have lately seen the gracious hand of God 
stretched out in a most remarkable manner, in the reco¬ 
very of a backsliding Missionary , after nine years of wan¬ 
dering from God. This person had been chosen with 
others for an arduous undertaking; had been set apart to 
the great work, and had engaged in it to a considerable 
extent; having acquired a tolerable knowledge of the 
language in which he was to preach to the heathen. At 
this period, he fell into open iniquity; and embraced a 
gloomy state of infidelity, the frequent consequence of 
backsliding from God.” 
Having left the Mission and gone to sea, 
several alarming incidents, particularly the break¬ 
ing of a limb at Madras, and a severe illness in 
Calcutta, tended to arouse him to a sense of his 
danger. But, although he held a correspondence 
with several serious persons, he studiously con¬ 
cealed his previous character and his name. At 
length, after writing a long letter, in which he 
describes the anguish of his mind with dreadful 
minuteness, he obtained a private interview with 
Dr.Marshman and Mr. Ward, of which the follow¬ 
ing is the result. 
“ At the time appointed, he called on brother Marsh - 
man, at brother Carey’s house, and, after a little conver¬ 
sation on the state of his soul, he added, 6 You now behold 
an apostate Missionary. I am --—, who left his bre¬ 
thren nine years ago. Is it possible you can behold me 
without despising me V —The effect which this discovery of 
Divine mercy, displayed to a backslider, had on brother 
Marshman’s mind, can better be conceived than described. 
It for the moment took away the anguish occasioned by a 
note that instant received from Serampore, saying, that 
brother Carey was at the point of death ! Brother Marsh- 
man entreated this returning prodigal to be assured of the 
utmost love on our part; encouraged him in his determi¬ 
nation to return to his Missionary brethren; and promised 
to intercede on his behalf, both with his brethren, and 
those who sent him out.” 
