Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1875 edition. Excerpt: ... chapter ii. missions in calcutta and its vicinity. jsonftfre'The apathy of England concerning the spiritual England. condition of heathen countries, and the rigid, exclusive selfishness which characterised its religion, continued almost unchanged until the eighteenth century was dying out, when suddenly the Christian Church awoke to the conviction of its gross neglect of duty. That it should have been so long heedless of the fact that more than one-half of the human race were worshippers of idols, and slaves of the most debasing superstitions, and then should have been so thoroughly transformed, as, in the course of a few short years, to be found devising practical schemes for the spiritual regeneration of pagan races of every country on the face of the earth, is a curious phenomenon in the history of mankind. The burden of the world's errors and sins, no doubt, had become heavier from year to year; but why Christian people should have been able to gaze upon the increasing burden with comparative calmness, and even cheerfulness, for many generations, and in the fading years of a wornout century should have with strange abruptness set themselves to the giganti6 task of removing it from the earth, is a question not easy of solution. The Danish missions in India had produced some excitement in Denmark and Germany, and had aroused some small attention in England. But the religious heart of Britain continued dull and cold. It was not yet warmed by genuine enthusiasm. True, the religious movements inaugurated by Wesley and Whitefield had imparted an electric influence to all the sections of the Christian Church. The frivolity and scepticism of Rousseau, Voltaire, some of it. a causes. and their numerous followers on the Continent, had shocke
