72 A THOUGHT FOR CHRISTIANS. What, Christian! live at ease A holier thought to cherish: We do not ask for more Than thou can'st well forego: 'T were healthful to bestow. Think how thy brethren fare What sufferings they undergo Obedient to their Lord, They go at His command; They cross the desert plain, Sleep where the lions roar, What efforts do we make, That we may serve our Lord? We give what we can spare; And say how much we feel The work itself is left undone, "So, then, have me excused, I pray." Not thus, with willing love LIFE OF THE REV. C. F. SWARTZ-SWARTZ AND HYDER ALI. (Continued from p. 66 of our last Number.) THE wars which prevailed, first between the French and English, and then between the English and Hyder Ali, were serious difficulties to Swartz in carrying on his Missionary work. Hyder Ali was the ruler of a large kingdom called Mysore, in the interior of India. He was not the rightful King. He had contrived, by evil practices, and by great ingratitude to those who had been kind to him, to raise himself, from an obscure and low position, to be the ruler and governor of Mysore. The rightful King was indeed suffered to live, and retain the name of King, but Hyder kept all the power in his own hands. Nor was he satisfied with this: he wished to have more. There is in the mind of a wicked man a restlessness which cannot be quieted, and which is in itself a punishment. Hyder wished to have all India to himself. The rulers of the countries around him, becoming alarmed, united with the English in trying to prevent him; and there was war, and all the calamities which are attendant on it. In these trying times Swartz was enabled to let his light shine, and to show more clearly, amidst the sad scenes around, the love and compassion of the true Christian. At the end of two years peace was concluded, and the country had rest, but only for a season. The English authorities had reason to believe that Hyder had not changed his mind; that he was only waiting his opportunity, with the design of more advantageously attacking them, and driving them out of the country. They resolved, therefore, on sending some one to Hyder who should have influence with him, and persuade him to remain at peace. Swartz was the person selected, such was the confidence that was reposed in him. They knew that he would not have any selfish views, and that he might be depended upon. Such a proposal surprised and perplexed Swartz, and he requested time to ask counsel of God in prayer. He felt it to be a dangerous undertaking. The country through which it would be necessary he should pass was little known to Europeans; the Prince he was about to visit was treacherous and cruel; but he thought that it might please God to use him as an instrument in preventing the miseries of war, and he resolved to go, trusting in Ĥim-with this determination, however, to receive no present or reward for doing so, and to accept nothing save his travelling expenses. He took with him his Catechist, Sattianaden. Mysore is part of the table-land of India, and much higher than the country of Tanjore, where Swartz lived; so that it was necessary he should climb up the ghauts, or mountain ranges, which bear it up from the plains beneath. He reached in safety Seringapatam, the city where Hyder dwelt. He had built a palace for himself, very beautiful, of hewn stone, with numerous pillars. Here he ruled H 2 LIFE OF THE REV.C.F.SWARTZ-SWARTZ AND HYDER ALI. 75 with great strictness. The fear of Hyder was upon all. He kept in readiness near him 200 men with whips. If any man displeased him, no matter what his rank might be, he was forthwith punished: nor did a day pass without many suffering this chastisement. Sometimes it was fearfully severe. The culprit was tied to a post, and two men flogged him with a whip in the most cruel manner, the pointed nails tearing the flesh. Such was the man whom Swartz had come to see; and it seemed like putting his head into the lion's mouth, for Hyder at this time was very angry with the English. Swartz saw him often, and conversed with him, and was careful to explain why it was that he, a religious teacher, who had nothing to do with politics, had come to him-that it was in the hope of preserving peace. Hyder was a sharp-sighted man: he soon perceived that Swartz was no ordinary person; that he could neither be deceived nor be alarmed; and he learned to respect and to regard him: and if other Europeans had presented the same character to Hyder, and gained from him the same measure of confidence which Swartz was enabled to do, there would perhaps have been no war. So beautiful, so lovely, is real Christianity. It is remarkable, that, while Swartz was at Seringapatam, he had very much opportunity of making known the Gospel of Christ. High and low came to inquire of him the nature of the Christian doctrine, so that he could speak as long as his strength allowed. Thus, in Hyder's palace, as of old by Paul in Cæsar's palace, Christ was preached. After taking his leave, Swartz, on entering his palanquin, found a bag of 300 rupees, sent by Hyder to defray the expenses of his journey. This he wished to send back, for he "coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel;" but the officers told him it would be at the peril of their lives to take it back. Swartz then wished to go himself, and return it with his own hands; but he was told that, as he had taken leave, he could not again see Hyder. On reaching Madras, he delivered the bag of money to the English authorities; but, being desired to keep it, he set it apart as the first fund for an English Orphan School at Tanjore, which was afterward successfully commenced. The next year Hyder invaded the parts of India which belonged to the English and their allies. His army was an immense one, of 100,000 men. His cavalry overran the country. Swartz viewed it as a judgment from God on the people for neglected opportunities. The three succeeding years were indeed years of great suffering to the people of South India. Their idols were broken, their houses burnt, their cattle driven away, and, what was the heaviest affliction, the children taken from the parents and sent to Mysore. During all this time, Swartz was unwearied in his efforts to relieve the wants and lessen the sorrows of his fellow men. His visit to Seringapatam had convinced him that war was at hand; and he had therefore purchased 12,000 bushels of rice, with which, in the time of scarcity, he was able to relieve the wants of others. 76 OPIUM AND ITS VICTIMS. Amidst the desolation which Hyder spread around, and the cruel treatment that he dealt out to all whom he considered as connected with the English, there was one remarkable exception made by him he gave orders to his officers that Swartz should be suffered to go backward and forward without any interference, and that respect and kindness should be shown him; "for," as he added, "he is a holy man, and means no harm to my government." Thus he was enabled to go about through the midst of Hyder's troops. No one injured him. He was known among them by the name of the "Good Father." We shall conclude this paper with the following interesting anecdote. Swartz had been travelling all day on Missionary work. He had with him a son of one of his converts, a boy named Christian David, who was afterward ordained by Bishop Heber at Calcutta. Arriving at a village about sunset, Swartz sat down under a tree, and conversed with the Natives while the evening meal was being prepared. When the curry and rice were spread on the plantain leaf, Swartz stood up to ask a blessing. His heart was full of thankfulness to God, who had preserved them through the day, when travelling was so dangerous, and he prayed long. The poor boy was very hungry, and at last, no longer able to restrain his impatience, reminded his master that the curry would be cold. He himself has told us how Swartz reasoned with him. "What!" he said, "shall our gracious God watch over us through the heat and burden of the day, and shall we devour the food which He provides for us at night with hands which we have never raised in prayer, and lips which have never praised Him?" (To be continued.) OPIUM AND ITS VICTIMS. CHINA, until within the last eight years, was closed against the Gospel. Missionaries were not permitted to enter that kingdom, to live amongst the Natives and teach them the truths of Christianity. It has pleased God that the closed door should be opened, and opportunity be afforded for the preaching of the Gospel. There are now five cities along the coast where Missionaries may live, and endeavour to bring these dark Heathen to the knowledge of a Saviour. How merciful it has been of God, in the present period of China's history, to accomplish such an alteration! Destitute as its inhabitants have for ages been of the light of true religion, their need is stronger and more urgent now than at any previous time. A new evil has been introduced among them-a drug that destroys soul and body-the opium. About sixty or seventy years ago the people of China first became acquainted with it, and from year to year the use of it has been rapidly increasing. It is now purchased by them in immense quantities, and the evils and |