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William Carey WILLIAM CAREY. BIRTH PUCI\ A::\1') F.\RLf.. RESTDE:"iCE. WILLIAM CAREY: A BIOGRAPHY. BY JOSEPH ~ELCHER, D.D., ·AUTHOR OF "BAPTISMS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT," EDITOR 01' "COMPLETE WORKS OF ANDREW FULLER," "WORKS 011' ROBERT BALL,"' ETC., ETC., ETC, PHILADELPHIA: AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY. 118 ARCll S1'UEET. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by the AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, in ami for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. PHILADELPHIA: STEREOTYPED BY GEORGE pHARLES, PRINTED BY KING & B.A1BD. PREFACE. THE question may, probably, be asked by some who take up this volume, Why publish a new life of a man who has been dead nearly twenty years? And especially, when a former Me;noir, written by an able ex-missionary, a near relative of its subject, and personally acquainted with him, has been extensively circulated? Allow me,· gentle reader, to write a few words in reply. WILLIAM CAREY is one of the naiJleS Which no section of the Christian church will ever permit to die. The pioneer, of modern missionaries, he strikingly illustrates the grace of God in his own personal history, and shows us the kind of agency which God usually employs in accomplishing the designs of his mercy to our fallen world. His example presents great encouragement to Christians of every class to labor for God, while it exhibits the spirit. and temper in which all services for the highest interests of 1* (5) 6 PREFACE. the world must be accomplished. The life of CAREY will always be kept before the church of Christ; and no objection to two biographies of this extraordinary man can be made, so long as we have more than one of the illustrious MILTON, of the never-dying BuNYAN, of the zealous WHITEFIELD, or of the immortal WASHINGTON. If the question be again asked, Why a new life should be written, rather than the former one be reprinted; our general answer is, that books are usually written for a partic&lar country, and for a particular day; so that because a volume was written in England twenty years ago, and was so acceptable as to call for two editions in that country and four or five others in this, it by no means follows that a new work, constructed partly on the basis , of the old one, but embodying a mass of new materials, and more clearly arranged, will not be far more acceptable. The fact is, that the Rev. Eustace Carey, the valued nephew of Dr. CAREY, and his first biographer, was a far better missionary, preacher, and missionary agent, than biogra­ pher. God has given him eminent gifts, but not of a literary character. Dr. Wayland, in his excellent Introduction to one of the PREFACE. 7 American editions of Mr. Carey's memoir of his venerated uncle, says, "In many parts we could wish that it had been more copious and specific, and had been more richly stored with domestic and daily incident, and illus-­ trative anecdote." But the tact of collecting materials from all and every source, of condensing them into a small compass, and of presenting them before the reader in the most attractive form, never was possessed by the worthy biographer. Hence, though the Memoir has always been read with interest, it has been complained of that the book was, in technical phrase, hea'vy; and many worthy persons have lamented that the life of a man presenting so fine a subject to encourage the friends of Christian Missions, and to inspire our ardent and pious young men with a spirit of persevering labor in the Cause of Christ, was not more generally known. Again and again, since the au thor- of this volume has resided in the United States, has the subject been urged upon him; and now-laid aside for a season from the pastorate, by impaired health-he has given a portion of his time to the production of a book which he hopes may interest many of the families of which our churches are 8 PREFACE. composed, and diffuse that spirit of piety and zeal which is essential alike to personal and social Christian prosperity. It is quite probable that my attention would have been practically directed to this subject several years ago, but that till recently there lived a gentleman-the Rev. Christopher Anderson, of Edinburgh-who was very generally looked to for a work of this character. His fine talents and learning, his extensive correspondence with CAREY aud his colleagues, and his enthusiasm in the subject, encouraged the hopes of many; and more than once, and by more than one method, did I urge the labor on that eminent servant of God. He never seemed unwilling to engage in it; but his hands were full of other work, and now, alas, he has been called to his reward, leaving the task undone. It was my happiness, even from my infancy,- to be well acquainted with the leading active persons of the English Baptist Missionary Society. I knew nearly every one of its Fathers and Founders, and have often heard the enchanting tales of their early labors, trials, and encouragements, · from their own lips. Mor~over, it was my happiness to serve the Society during it~:! PREFACE. JUbilee Year, in an office which delightfully compelled me to study its early history, and to become acquainted with its friends. And now, removed far from its scenes of action, I rejoice in what I have done, assured that I have had no temptation to take any other than an impartial view of whatever facts were important to introduce into this volume. It would be injustice to Mr. Eustace Carey, if I did not acknowledge that for a large portion of the materials of this work I am indebted to him. I have endeavored to give every fact which I deemed important, especially to the American reader; but, as far as possible, without repetition. From the various publications also, connected with the JuBILEE of the Society, in 1842-3, including Dr. Cox's admirable history, sermons, lectures, magazines, etc.,-from periodical publications and other sources in this country, especially from a number of important denominational works in the Library of the AMERICAN BAP­ TIST PuBLICATION SociETY, to which I have been privileged with free access-I have collected, as well as from private sources, many highly interesting facts, which have hitherto been ncw·ly if not quite unknown. I have sought to make the volume interesting· 1 1 10 PREFACE. to the general reader, rather than to the mere 1 scholar, though the most enlightened man will most correctly appreciate the literary 1 talents and attainments of the distinguished CAREY. The insertion or omission of PRo­ 1 FESSOR WILSON's estimate of the mind and labors of the Translator at Serampore, at one 1 time was a matter of question; but delibera­ tion at length induced me to place it in the 1 APPENDIX, as containing much matter that is highly interesting to the Linguist and the Missionary. 1 Commending the volume to the examination and candor of the reader, and to the blessing 1 of the God of Missions, I withdraw from the audience-chamber of my friends, with the 1 hope of having rendered some small service in the field of Missionary Biography. 1 J. B. PhiladelpMa Mall 1853. 1 1 1 1 1 1 CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAG. Glance at Northampton-Meeting at the Baptist Church in 1787--Carey's first public introduction of Missions-Re­ p111se-Early history--Conversion-Baptism-Call to the Ministry-Ordination at Moulton-Labors-Learning, 17 CHAPTER II. Mr. Carey's view of his own character-His person and man­ ners described by Mr. Gotch-His conduct at a Ministers' meeting-Advantages derived from neighboring ministers -Mr Hall, senior-Mr. Fuller-Difficulties at Moulton­ Invitation to Leicester-Removal-Interview with Mr. Robinson-Difficulties-Wise conduct-Division of time- Pains of separation, ••••••• 37 CHAPTER III. Origin of the Baptist Mission-Religious state of the Baptist Denomination-Resolution of Association at Nottingham, in 1784-Re-publication of President Edwards' Humble Attempt-Carey's Visit to Birmingham-Publication of his pamphlet-Analysis of its reasonings-Local meetings of the Baptists-Sermons by Sutcliff and Fuller-Associa­ tion at Nottingham, 1792, and Ca~n-Difficul­ ties-Carey's Expostulation-Meeting at Kettering-For­ mation of the Society-The House-Remarks by Dr. Cox -Review by Dr. Godwin, • • • . • • • 48 CHAPTER IV. An American's visit to Kettering-Sketches of the members of Committee-Puhlic opinion in .London-Letter from Carey respecting Thomas-Anecdote of Campbell-Thomas (11) 12 CONTENTS. PAGB invited to become a missionary-His arrival at Kettering, and affecting interview with Carey-Carey's disinterested­ ness and foresight--Interview with Ward-Refusal of Mrs. Carey to accompany her husband-Contributions of the Churches to the funds-Carey's visit to· London-Solemn farewell services at Leicester-Embark for India-Are again set on shore-Apparent failure of the whole-Inter- position of Providence-Sailing of the whole family, 68 CHAPTER V. Effects. produced in England by the Mission-Not generally sustained-Opinion of Mr. Beddome-Voyage-Carey's difficulties and poverty in India-Voyage up the Jubona­ Meeting with Captain Short--Kindnesses received-At­ tachment to American Theology-Brainerd-Carey's feel­ ings under Trials-Missionary labors--Commences to build -In:vited by Mr. Udney to Mudnabatty-receives a hand­ some income, and relinquishes his salary-Love to the Society-a church organized-Letter of Dismission from Leicester-Trials-Sickness-Domestic bereavement-­ Piety-Active labors-Character of the Bengalese-Wor­ ship of the Sun-Ridicule of Missions in England-Speech of Charles Marsh, Esq., .
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