The Life of Thomas T. Thomason, missionary in Calcutta

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THE LIBRARY

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THE UNIVERSITY

OF CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES

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THE LIFE

OF

THOMAS T. THOMASON,

MISSIOXABT IN CALCUTTA.

COMPILED FOR THE AMERICAN SUXDAT-9CH00L UKIOIT,

AKD BEVISEB BT THE COMMITTEE OF

PUBLICATION.

PHIL^DELPHTJi:

AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION.

WO, 146 CHESTXUT STREET.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1833,
by Paul Beck, Jr., Treasurer, in trust for the American
Sunday-school Union, in tlie Clerk's Office of the District
Court of the Eastern District of Peniisj'lvania.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. Page

Birth — Education — Visit to the West Indies - - 7

CHAPTER II.
Education for the Ministry — University of Cambridge 10

CHAPTER III.
Tutor — Ordination — Settlement — Cambridge - -16

CHAPTER IV.
Shelford — Wishes to be a Missionary - - - 22

CHAPTER V.
Appointed Chaplain to Calcutta — Voyage — Wreck - 32

CHAPTER VI.
Calcutta — His Employments ..... 49

CHAPTER VII.
His Preaching — Henry Martyn - - - - 62

CHAPTER VIII.
Calcutta Bible Society — Fire at Serampore — Ameri-
can Missionaries 74

CHAPTER IX.
Travels witli Earl Moira — Reproves Sabbath-breaking
— Bishop Middle ton 94

CHAPTER X.
Orphan Asylum — Hindoo College — Other Employ-
ments— Bishop's College — Parting with Congrega-
tion 112

CHAPTER XI.
Voyage to England — Death of Mrs. Thomasoii— Chel-
tenham— Returns to Calcutta — \'oyage to the Isle of
France— Death 125

3

PREFACE.

The young readers of this volume will
please to remember, before they begin it, that
it has not been written merely to amuse them,
or to praise Mr. Thomason. It has been writ-
ten and pnnted because it is believed that it
may do great good to those who shall thus see
how benevolent and active those men are who
are true Christians ; how humble they are,
whatever may be their piety, how anxious
to tell men of the mercy of God through
the atonement of Christ, and how happy when
they are engaged in this work. In publishing
the history of pious men, born in different
places, and belonging to different churches,
our hope is, that the readers of such books
will see a proof of the power of religion, and
the way in which it is shown to exist ; and
that this will lead ihem also to desire to be th€
disciples of Christ, and to become holy and
happy 4

THE LIFE

THOMAS T. THOMASON.

CHAPTER I.

Thomas T. Thomason was born at
Plymouth, in England, on the seventh
day of June, 1774. Before he was a year
old his father died, and in his fifth year
his pious mother removedJ:o London, and
placed her son in a school in the neigh-
bourhood of that city. This school was
taught by a master and several tutors.
Thomas was happily put under the care
of a pious tutor, who took great pains
to give him religious instruction. He
gave him lessons in the Bible, and when
he examined him, he not only asked
questions to know whether Thomas had
studied them, but would show him that
A 2 5

6 THE LIFE OF

he had a great concern in what the Bible
taught. He led him to compare his
own feelings with what the Scriptures
say of the sinfulness of mankind. And
w^hen Thomas saw that he was a sinner,
the tutor showed him that the only
way of being pardoned was by repent-
ance and trusting to God's mercy, through
Jesus Christ. The blessing of God at-
tended his faithful instruction, and young
Thomas soon began to be affected by
these truths. Thomas might have be
lieved that he was a sinner, and that Christ
is the only Saviour ; but if this had not
led him to repent of his sins and seek
salvation, his knowledge would have been
worse than useless to him. But he was
not so unwise. When he felt that he
was so guilty that he must depend on the
mercy of God for pardon, he began to
seek that mercy. And when he found
that God was so holy, excellent, and good,
he desired to love and serve him ; so
that before he was nine years old he woukl

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 7

rather spend the play-time alone, thinking
of God, praying to him, and reading the
Scriptures, than join in the amusements
of his schoolmates. For this the boys
ridiculed him, but, as he said afterwards,
"I began to find confidence in prayer;
and in proportion as I did so, happiness ;
this happiness was so great that I bore
contempt without murmuring."

I cannot help observing here how much
good might be done by teachers of day-
schools, if they would faithfully instruct
tlieir scholars in the Bible. This is done
in Sunday-schools, but every teacher ought
to be willing and happy to teach his
scholars those truths which may lead
them to pardon and everlasting happiness.
Let children pray that there may be more
teachers like the tutor of young Thomason.

Thomas was also attentive to his other
studies, and made such progress, that when
he was only thirteen years of age, he be-
came a tutor himself; and when about
fifteen, he was so well acquainted with the

8 THE LIFE OF

French language, that Dr. Coke, a mis-
sionary of the methodist church, took him
to the West Indies to assist him, as his
interpreter. This employment increased
his desire of becoming useful to those who
are destitute or careless of the gospel.

CHAPTER II.

After his return from a short stay in
tlie West Indies, his friends believed that
his character for piety and usefulness made
it proper that he should be encouraged in
his desire to become a minister of the gos-
pel in the episcopal church. His mother
being unable to afford him proper educa-
tion, he was assisted by a society esta-
blishedforthe purpose of aiding youngmen
in circumstances like his. He commenced
his studies in 1791, being then in the
eighteenth year of his age. His teacher
was a venerable clergyman, named C^ark,

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 9

who undertook to prepare him for college
without charge. He had one fellow-student
who was also studying for the ministry,
and who is now the Rev. Charles Jerram,
They soon formed an intimate friendship,
and found great happiness in studying,
conversing, and praying together. Some
sentences from Thomason's letters to his
mother at th s time may be interesting and
useful.

" In the evening we heard Mr. Clark
expound, when he considered, among
many other verses, that one which is a
part of our Saviour's prayer for his apos-
tles, ' I pray not that thou wouldest take
them out of the world, but that thou
wDuldest keep them from the evil.' Ah !
thought I, that is the grand point, to be
kept from the world, from its evils, its
vanities, its snares. The means of grace
are very precious : the wearied they re-
fresh, the bewildered they guide, to the
mourners they administer comfort, the

10 THE LIFE OF

careless they awaken ; will they not rise
up in judgment against us, unless received
in the spirit of thankfulness and prayer ?''

'-'Feb. 17, 1792.
" INIr. Clark has been with us and given
us some rules which I copied down from
his own mouth. Being dressed in the
morning, let each meditate on the divine
perfections ; his dependence upon God ;
his obligations to obey him. Let each
recollect his own particular defects or
weaknesses, and wherein he is most likely
to fail in the duties which he owes to God
and man ; remembering his reliance on
the Redeemer for the forgiveness of his
sins, and for power to discharge every
duty. Having meditated on these sub-
jects, let each separately apply himself to
God in prayer ; begging that he may have
more enlarged views of the extent of
God's laws, and of his own sins, whether
in temper, words, or actions ; entreating
for an increase of dependence on the

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 11

Redeemer in every office, and for ability
to discharge every duty, and to suppress
every wrong temper. Thus runs our
preceptor's advice. 0 that we may be
enabled to follow it ! The word of God
— our own consciences — our parents — our
tutor, unite in teaching us the necessity
of meditation and prayer ; and shall we
after all neglect it ? May we receive
grace to withstand every opposition, and
to love the Lord with all our hearts !
May our hearts be submissive and humble ;
our actions Christian and becomino;; our
words gentle and loving. My dear mother,
let this letter put an end to all anxiety on
our account. Fear not, we shall be blessed
while we are careful to pray for a blessing."

''March 5, 1792.
" How ought I to make it my continual
prayer, that God would so sanctify my
aims, that I may be enabled in all things
1o behave as becometh a person whose
profession is to be sacred. I feel much

12 THE LIFE OF

the importance of a greater conformity to
the will of God. Shall I, who am to
stand up between God and man, behave
in a manner which shows my contempt
of him whose messenger I pretend to be ?
How dreadful the consequence of this ?
The profession which a minister makes
is very awful ; he professes to be called
by the common Maker and Redeemer
of all, on an errand which concerns the
salvation of all ; this call he professes to
be moved to by the Holy Spirit ; this
profession presupposes a knowledge of the
efficacy of that redemption which he
preaches. He professes that he has felt
the happiness of God's children, and of a
life devoted to the service of God. How
careful, then, ought such a person to be
not to oflfend God or man ; how vigilant
should he be, lest by giving way, and
consenting to the evil of his own heart,
he should be led into actions disgracefiil
fjo him, both as a learner and teacher of
good things. Every action of such a per-

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 13

son is exposed to peculiar scrutiny ; and
every sin, no doubt, will be punished with
peculiar weight. His employment makes
him as a city set upon a hill, which can-
not be hid ; his life, therefore, should be
such as will bear the most accurate obse^
vation and notice, and the principles of
his life such as will bear the searching of
God's omniscience, who sits as a refiner's
fire on every soul of man. 0, who is
equal to this ? Cleanse thou me, 0 God,
from my secret faults. See what sin thei'e
is in me, and dispel it by the operations
of thy Holy Spirit. Make me to lov€
thee more and serve thee better, that when
thou in thy providence shalt call me to
speak in thy name, I may, having myself
experienced the happiness which results
from being at peace with thee, be enabled
to commend this happiness to those whom
thou mayest commit to my care.

" I am well persuaded that nothing
would tend to make me so truly happy,
or so consistent in practice, as a continued
B

14 THE LIFE OF

sense of my own nothingness and sinful-
ness. Whether it be through the incon-
stancy of youth, or a temptation peculiarly
strong to me, so it is that I am continually
forgetting this. Highmindedness will find
it5 way into my soul, and disturb my
peace. What have I to boast of ? Surely
nothing ; I have sinned much, and have
been forgiven much ; I do still sin, and
am still forgiven ; shall I be proud ? My
dear mother, do not forget to pray for me,
that my strength to withstand evil may be
increased, that I may improve in the
knowledge and love of God, and that his
peace, which passeth all understanding,
may enlighten the natural darkness of my
soul, and be my safeguard against the
world, the flesh, and the devil.'*

In October, 1792, Mr. Thomason was
sent to the university of Cambridge, where
JNIr. Jerram joined him a few months after-
w'ards. His feelings and wishes in expec-
tation of this event were thus expressed :

THOMAS T. THOMASON, 15

**Indeed the prospect before me requires
much circumspection : a false step at my
first entrance may imbitter a whole three
years' residence. How easy a matter to
forget God ! How easy to connect my-
self with persons who care not for God,
nor the things of God ! How happy will
it be if I should find grace, and come off
conqueror ! May I be enabled, knowing
my Master's will, to do it ! May my
life be regulated by a proper rule and
conducted in a proper spirit !

" 0 that I may be enabled, day by day,
to act as a dying creature ! May I im-
prove in the knowledge and love of God,
and make every thing subservient to the
one great end ! I am determined, with
God's assistance, to begin afresh. I am
determined, by his grace assisting me, to
devote my powers to Him ; and work,
act, think, speak, and live for Him. No-
thing is worth a thought but how I may
please Him, and this is worth all my
thoughts/'

16 THE LlfE OF

The separation from his beloved teacher
was painful ; they took a last walk toge-
ther, and the pupil received his parting
advice. " Watch strictly," said he, "over
your heart ; be much in prayer, cleave
closely to God. Pray for spiritual dis-
cernment, that you may have a clear per-
ception of the path you should walk in.
Pray to walk in that way in spite of all
opposition ; thus knowing and doing the
will of God, you must be happy."

CHAPTER III.

Ix the university Mr. Thomason was
distino-uished bv his diligence and success.
He gained one of the annual prizes by
an essay to prove " that the Holy Scrip-
tures, rightly understood, do not give en-
couragement to enthusiasm or supersti-
tion." He was very attentive to the study
of the language in which the Bible was
written. He had read the New Testa

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 17

ment in Greek so often, and with so much
care, that it was scarcely possible to men-
tion a passage in English, for which he
could not immediately quote the original.
He had the Hebrew Bible divided into
several small volumes, and was never w^ith-
out one of them in his pocket. He U'sually
read this whenever he could spare time
from his other studies, and by this means
became familiar with the whole of the
Scriptures.

The happiness and advantages of his
life in college were much promoted by the
society of his friend Jerram, and another
Christian student, the late Rev. Mr. Cock-
er. They lived in the closest intimacy,
and spent many happy hours in reading
the Scriptures, in prayer, and in singing
their favourite hymns. They rose at the
same time and met in the same room to
study, and made both their duties and
their leisure contribute to their religious
improvement They had also the advan-
tage of the friendship of the Rev. Mr,
b2

18 THE LIFE OF

Simeon, of Cambridge, who is so well
known by Christians as a pious author,
and as the friend of Henry Martyn.

In a letter to his friend Mrs. Thorn-
ton, jNIr. Thomason says, " Mr. Simeon
watches over us as a shepherd over his
sheep. He takes delight in instructing
us, and has us continually at his rooms.
He has nothing to do with us as it respects
our situation at college. His Christian
love and zeal prompt him to notice us."

During his last )"ear in college, Mr.
Thomason was offered the care of the
mission church at Calcutta, which he
resolved to accept ; but some events in his
family obliged him to decline the appoint-
ment, and the celebrated Buchanan was
sent in his place. In the spring of 1796,
Having finished his course at college, he
became tutor in a private family at Bal-
dock, that he might gain the means of
support until he finished his studies for
the ministry. In this place he enjoyed
much spiritual happiness. "My soul,"

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 19

he writes, " has been much blessed, and
I have been enabled to live more in a
state of prayer than I ever remember to
have done. I long to know more of the
power of religion, and to realize the things
of eternity ; — blessed be God for what
he has done for me in this respect My
birth-day was distinguished by nothin-g
but a firm determination to give myself
more unreservedly to God, with the divine
assistance. When I look back and con-
sider what has been done for me, I am
like a traveller at the foot of the Alps, —
he sees mountains above mountains, — I
see mercy beyond mercy."

In October of the same year, Mr.
Thomason was ordained to the ministry.
His language at that time was : ^' I ear-
nestly pray God to take me out of th'e
world if his omniscient eye foresees that
I shall dishonour him by the unfaithful
ea&ercise of so holy a profession. — If I
have been hasty and forward in under-
taking so holy an office, I pray the Lord

20 THE LIFE OF

to pardon me, and to qualify me for the
work that lies before me ; then shall I
preach as in the presence of the Judge of
quick and dead/'

He was immediately appointed to the
charge of a congregation in Cambridge,
and another at Stapleford, about five miles
distant. A great advantage to him in this
situation was that he was assistant to his
friend and adviser, Mr. Simeon.

Mr. Thomason had a peculiar fitness
for teaching the young, and took a great
delight in having them assembled for in-
struction. Every Sunday morning he
went to Stapleford, which he reached by
six o'clock, and spent two hours in teach-
ing the children before the service of the
church commenced.

But finding that the church at Cam-
bridge was not able to maintain two minis-
ters, Mr. Thomason applied for a situation
in the university, and in 1797 he was
chosen to a fellowship, and to be an assist-
ant tutor in one of the colleges of which it is

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 21

composed. In the next year he was apn
pointed tutor, and had to deliver daily
two public and two private lectures, on
the studies of his classes ; and when Mr.
Simeon was absent, he had to preach five
sermons weekly.

Heretofore he had only been a deacon.
According to the church of England, a per-
son is not permitted to perform all the
duties of a clergyman until he has passed
some time as a deacon. If he is then
Judged fit for the sacred office, he is or-
dained as a presbyter. To this rank Mr.
Thomason was admitted in 1798, and was
settled in the village of Shelford. In the
next year he was married to Miss Fawcet,
who was an excellent and benevolent wo-
man, and proved in all respects a suitable
companion.

83 THE LIFE OF

CHAPTER IV.

The happiness of Mr. Thomason al
this period of life may be judged of by
his own account of his situation in a let-
ter to his mother.

" Do you remember a very pleasant
spot, where there are two bridges, and
you have a sweet view on both sides ?
Close to that spot is our mansion ; the
walks extend down to the river. A more
beautiful place I never saw : it is the
garden of Cambridgeshire. When I look
around me it seems a dream : I can
scarcely persuade myself it belongs to
me. If you think of me between the
hours of twelve and two, you may imagine
me walking in the shrubbery with my
little Hebrew Bible in my hand. Should
the sun be very hot, depend upon it, I
have taken my seat under the shade of a
thick chestnut ; there I endeavour to col-
lect my thoughts, and stir myself up to

THOMAS T. THOMASOX. 28

diligent improvement and application of
the word of God. But, alas! I find it
easier to admire the landscape around me
than to raise my heart to Him who made
it ; easier to thank him for the walks and
gardens, than to besiege a throne of grace
for spiritual blessings : yet these are what
I earnest!}^ long for, and without which
my soul cannot be satisfied. Mr. Simeon
has a room on the ground floor, which
opens into a delightful pleasure-garden,
surrounded by a wall, where he can walk
privately, in which he so much delights.
One door of his room opens into my
study, so that we are as near each other
as possible. His friendship I must name
amongst my chief blessings : he is more
and more dear to us, as indeed he ought
to be ; his kindness to us is wonderful.
It quite overpowers me when I think of
jt. I hope we shall provoke one another
more and more to abound in the work
of the Lord. 0 how short is the time !
I am sure there is no time for idleness :

24 THE LIFE Of

would to God that the preciousness of
each passing hour might be more deeply
impressed upon my mind.

" It has pleased God to send us pious
servants ; indeed our domestic comforts
are invaluable ; our seasons of family
prayer are seasons of refreshment I
have found my own mind stirred up to
make them as profitable as possible."

At this time he resolved to take a few
pupils into his house. He was induced
to do this, not only to assist in the support
of his family, but that he might be able
to repay all that had been expended for
his education by the society that had su]>
ported him at college. This he did by
saving nearly eighteen hundred dollars
from the pay of his scholars. Of his
labours as a pastor at this time Mr. Simeon
thus speaks:

" The parishes in which Mr. and Mrs.
Thomason were able to exert their influ-
ence seemed as their own family, — schools
of industry, as well as other schools, were

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 25'

established by them — the poor and the-
sick were visited and relieved — all that
Christian love could plan and devise was
planned and executed with the tenderest
assiduity and most unwearied constancy.
If I were to fix on one thing more than
another, where Mr. Thomason was at,
home, it was in his Sunday evening and
Tuesday evening lectures in his school-
room. There the poor were permitted
to come, and he was a father amongst his
children, or a pastor amongst his flock.
In his addresses there was an unrivalled
simplicity and divine unction, which left
a savour that is not forgotten to this hour.'*
He also still preached frequently at
Cambridge, and found time to write essays
for two prizes in the university, both of
which he gained, in addition to the one
which he obtained whilst a student. The
subjects of his essays were, "That the Chris-
tian religion has in its effects been favour-
able to human happiness,'' and " That the.
differences of opinion amongst Christians-

36 THE LIFE OF

is no proof against Christianity.*' Seve
ral clergymen were in the habit of hold-
ing meetings for devotion and conversa-
tion in each other's houses. Mr. Thoma-
son found them very profitable, and opened
his own house for this purpose. A vene-
rable minister says, " One of my most
pleasing recollections of him is my meet
ing him about twenty-five years ago, when
he was curate of Shelford. At his hous<»
a clerical meeting was held once a year,
which was attended by about fifteen or
twenty clergymen. Being privileged to
be one of the occasional visiters, I cannot
describe the benefit, instruction, and hap-
piness which I enjoyed. It was the de
light of Mr. and Mrs. Thomason to re
-ceive their Christian friends, and a spiriit
of devotion, peaceful serenity, and Chris-
tian cheerfulness prevailed in their hospi-
table mansion, which has left an indelible
impression on my mind."

But notwithstanding the happiness of
his situation at Shelford, INIr. Thomason

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 27

was not satisfied that he was performing
his duty to his divine Master unless he
was doing all that he could do. He felt
tiiat there were many places in the world
more in need of the services of a minister
than his own happy village. And the
comforts he was enjoying there often
caused him to think of those who were
suffering so many hardships in foreign
countries for the sake of spreading the
gospel. This was not a new feeling: for,
as we have seen, he was near going as a
missionary to Calcutta before he had
finished his studies at the university. It
was now, however, increased in his mind
by two circumstances. The first was the
consideration of the devotedness of Wes-
ley and Whitefield to the service of the
Redeemer. When he thought how much
those men had done during their lives to
extend the blessings of religion, he felt
that he was doing much less than he might
do. The other circumstance that led him
to reflect much on the subject was the

28 THE LIFE OF

departure of Henry INIartyn from Eng»
land, to spend his life in promoting reli-
gion in Asia. He thus wrote in the be-
ginning of 1805, alluding to the history
of Wesley and Whitefield :

" One good effect has already been pro-
duced on my mind, — an increased and
painful sense that I am doing nothing to
any good purpose. The reading the life
and labours of those excellent ministers
fills me with admiration of their zeal, and
with shame that 1 am such a blank in
creation. My sphere is contracted, and
I long for a more extensive field of labour.
God has given me an education and a
spirit, I trust, which might render me far
more useful in the church than I now am.
Where my present thoughts will lead me,
I know not ; but I look round upon this
lovely spot with all the indifierence of a
man who would, with the greatest cheer-
fulness, part with all, if a situation of
greater usefulness, however laborious,

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 29

should offer itself. Here I am. ' Lord,
what wilt thou have me to do V

" But more of this at a future time ; in
the mean time let us both remember, —
vou, that you have frequently devoted me
to God, — and I, that I have professedly
done so for years, — and that, as a redeemed
creature, I ought to be presenting my body
a living sacrifice to God."

Accordingly, in that year, Mr. Thoma-
son determined to seek an opportunity of
going to the heathen ; but upon advising
with Mr. Simeon and a friend who had
the chief direction of the appointment of
missionaries to India, they judged it pro-
per, probably on account of the unwilling-
ness of his wife, that he should give up
his design. His own humble account of
Uie reasons for this advice is as follows :

" It appears evident that a minister who
is not calculated for usefulness at home,
will never become useful abroad ; and that
change of place or employment cannot of
itself quicken the soul which for eight
c 2

30 THK LIFE or

years has been sleeping over its labours
I feel the truth of this more deeply than
I can express, but not a thousandth part
so deeply as I should. Having now dis-
missed all thoughts of foreign service,
I hope to give myself wholly to the work
that is before me. ^lay God enable me
to live more to him, lest, after having
preached to others, I myself should be a
castaway."

He was still, however, not satisfied that
he was in the situation w^here he could do
the most good, and in 1806 hoped to be
placed in the town of South Shields.
This was a place of great ignorance and
wretchedness : but, he said, " I have
looked over the barren hills, and smoke,
and dirt, and feel that the consideration
of 15,000 souls outweighs every thing.'*
" Knowing,'' as he said, " how arduous
it is to become the minister in a town
so populous and opulent, where the minds
of men were either immersed in business,
cm: degraded to the lowest state of vulgarity

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 31

and profaneness ;" he argued thus with
himself, — " there are many who are re-
conciled to live here all their days in the
pursuit of wealth, and shall not the love of
Christ and the honour of souls engage me
in the same self-denial ? When a door is
opened for the extension of His kingdom,
shall a minister of Christ say, I will not
enter it, because the country is dreary, and
the place is full of filth and wretchedness ?
God forbid ! Here I am ; if it please
God to fix me here, I shall be contented
to live and die amongst them. These
things move me not ; the only thing that
moves me, is a fear lest I should not bring
a right spirit to the great work." But
those who had the right of placing a mi-
nister in this place chose another, and he
remained at Shelford ; continuing also to
assist Mr. Simeon at Cambridge.

32 THE LIFE OF

CHAPTER V.

In the spring of ISOS Mr. Thomason
was again offered an appointment as chap-
Iain to Calcutta. He now believed that
it was the will of Providence he should
go^ and he wrote thus to his mother :

" March 4, 1808.
" My acceptance of the appointment
has not yet come before the court of di-
rectors, yet I cannot help feeling that the
event v/ill assuredly be brought about.
I own that the more I consider the various
leadings of divine Providence, and reflect
on the unwearied tenor of my former
wishes and plans, comparing them with
what I now feel, the more am I convinced
that such a change of my situation will
be accomplished. And I think, my dear
mother, when you reflect on the course
of my life from the beginning, on the sin-
gular manner in which I was led to de-

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 33

vote myself to the ministerial work, oq
the course of providence by which the
matter was brought about, and above all,
on the earnest and repeated desire I have
felt again and again for this particular des-
tination, especially when you think that
the work of my heart has been uniformly
prevented by one great obstacle, and that
this is now entirely removed, I think you
will conclude that the time appears to be
come. The same person (Mrs. Thoma-
son) who was once decidedly adverse, so
as not to hear of it without tears, is now
happy in the thought of it. She no
longer thinks of the sea, nor of the cli-
mate, but counts it a privilege and an ho
nour to be exposed in such a cause. For
my own part, it appears to be of great
consequence to the work of God, that
help should be applied in that quarter
where it is most wanted, and that where
most lasting good can be done, ministers
should labour. Now certainly God is
doing a great work in India. The labour-

34 THE LIFE OF

ers are few, and the field amazingly ex-
tensive : they want men who will work,
and whose habits are such as to render
them useful workmen in a business where
application and study are much wanted.
In this respect, my habits and inclinations
are favourable. It will be a pleasure to
me to acquire their languages, which are
so much studied in Bengal, the acquisition
of which is so important to usefulness,
and my heart leans to that part of the
world with the same desire it did just
before I entered into orders. I consider
that what others expose themselves to for
lucre and worldly honours, ministers ought
to endure for nobler ends.

" All this, I am sure, meets with corres-
ponding feelings, my dear mother, in your
own mind. You have ao;ain and again
given me up to God, and I have no doubt
you will be supported on the present occa-
sion. What an honour and happiness
there is in making sacrifices for Christ's
sake ! I am sure the more we are enabled

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 35

to do this, the more solid peace shall we
enjoy, and the more shall we know him
to be a good master. I trust that you will
be fitted for every trial, and strengthened
to do and suffer the whole will of God."

His appointment being confirmed, he
immediately commenced the study of the
Persian language, and other preparations
for his departure. He sailed on the 16th
of June, 1808, from the isle of Wight, in
England, having just entered the thirty-
fifth year of his age. His widowed mo-
ther's feelings on this occasion were thus
expressed :

" At some seasons I am so oppressed
I cannot command myself. I sorrow most
of all that I shall see that dear face no
more for ever, and only in proportion as
I feel a sense of the Divine presence, can
my mind bear this deprivation. I see
the suitableness of my dear son's charac-
ter for such a situation. I cannot doubt
a moment that whatever the Lord does

36 THE LIFE OF

must be right, and excellent, and sure,
and good — but I exquisitely feel his loss ;
I wish and desire to call upon myself to
look beyond this vale of tears to that
celestial hill where God has prepared for
himself a city — when once entered there,
all tears will be wiped away from our
eyes for ever. They expect to sail to-
morrow. God's will be done."

She must have received consolation in
the views of this trial, which her son
gave in the following letter, written when
on the point of sailing.

" Tr aver sounder weigh, June 10, 1808.
" My dearest Mother — This morn-
ing we were summoned on board. The
wind has become fair, and we are proceed-
ing out to sea. Our dear and honoured
friend, Mr. Simeon, accompanied us to
the vessel, and is now with us. We all
retired to our cabin, and united in prayer,
desiring to consecrate this spot to Godp
and to commit ourselves and all the sliip's

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 37

company to his gracious care. Blessed
be Godj we know what it is to draw nigh
to him, and we feel but one concern — that
we may glorify Him in this world, and
enjoy him in the next. 0 it is an un-
speakable mercy to part with a good hope
that w^e shall one day meet where sorrow
and parting shall be no more.

" I hope, my dearest mother, you still
experience the gracious support of our
heavenly Father. When I look back
at this moment, I can discern innumerable
mercies vouchsafed to us both in times
past. This is the greatest trial we ever
had — who knows what jo}^ we may here-
after find in this trial ? Who know^s what
joy may be reaped by thousands ? What
abundant cause of thankfulness shall we
have, if by temporal sacrifices many
should become partakers of everlasting;
happiness. This indeed will be a rich
reward.

" I leave you with many dear and ten-
der friends ; above all, with a gracious-
D

«8 THE LIFE OF

God, who has guided, preserved, and
blessed you, from the beginning even
till now. To his gracious keeping I
commit you, humbly hoping and believ-
ing that he will supply your every want
out of the riches of his grace in Christ
Jesus. May He be your portion, your
shield, and your exceeding great reward !
Amen. Amen."

They had a pleasant voyage of five
months, and were expecting daily to see
the shore of Hindoostan, when they met
with a calamity which can best be told
by copying his own account of it in a
letter to his mother ; inserting a few sen-
tences from another to Mr. Simeon.

''Nov. 13, ISOS, Off the Sand Heads.
" ^ 0 be thankful unto the Lord, for he
is gracious, and his mercy endureth for
'ever.' Let the redeemed of the Lord
say so ; ' Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and
all that is within me bless his holy name.'

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 39

You will read the narrative of the Lord's
mercies to us with tears of joy and thank-
fulness. Our voyage had been singularly
propitious, from Madeira down the coast
of South America, to the cape of Good
Hope, and from thence to the bay of
Bengal. We had fine weather all the
way ; no gales to alarm, no calms to de-
tain us. I was chiefly occupied in a dili-
gent study of the Persian language, Mrs.
T. in instructing the children : our days
passed quickly and profitably. But what-
ever may have taken place during the
voyage, the conclusion of it has been
marked by so signal an interposition of
divine Providence, that we have neither
time nor inclination to fix our mind on
any other object. How will your heart
be filled with thankfulness, and your lips
show forth his praise, when you hear that
the unworthy writer of the following nar-
rative, with his beloved wife and children,
have been almost miraculously saved from
destruction.

40 THE LIFE OF

" Whilst events are still fresh in my
recollection, and in order that they may
ever continue so, I will endeavour to re-
late that most wonderful deliverance from
shipwreck, by which God has been pleased
to preserve my wife and family, with
many other persons. Early in the morn-
ing of the 7th, we approached cape Ne-
grais. Soundings were made, which left
us no room to apprehend any immediate
danger. At half-past four they were
twenty-one fathoms ; which, being cer-
tified to the captain, he immediately came
on deck, and gave orders for heaving the
ship to. The words were scarcely pro-
nounced, when the ship struck upon a
rock. At this time the Earl Spencer was
so near, the captain hailed and cried out,
they were amongst breakers. The Earl
Spencer providentially escaped, and actu-
ally passed over the reef without striking ;
but our own ship, notwithstanding every
exertion, continued to strike with violence
The first shock brought down the mizen

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 41

top-mast ; the wind then blowing fresh.
In a moment the cry of distress was
raised, which was heard by the Spencer,
and which it very soon appeared was not
made without reason. The passengers
and all the ship's company were soon
upon deck, and saw with the deepest
anguish the danger in which they were.
I had previously gone down and informed
Mrs. T. that the ship had struck, and that
none but God could save us. The heel-
ing of the ship was now tremendous, and
the blows continued, till the rudder was
broken with an awful crash, that seemed to
portend that the ship should immediately
go to the bottom. Who but those who
have actually borne a part in such scenes
can conceive the dreadful sensations thus
produced ? We endeavoured to commit
ourselves to the mercy of God, and then
Mrs. Thomason, snatching up our dear J.^
followed by Mrs. , with 0 , re-
paired on deck. She had nothing on her
but a counterpane, and the dear children
d2

42 THE LIFE OF

each a sheet. We ckmg together near
the round house, and lifted up our hearts
to God, It was an awful scene : every
countenance was filled with terror and
despair. Thus in one short moment they
had exchanged their peaceful slumbers
for all the horrors of threatening destruc-
tion. Through the mercy of God the
wind soon moderated ; a circumstance
which gave time to take proper measures
for saving the crew. The mainmast was
first cut down, which fell over the side.
After, the foremast was cut away, and we
were thus left a mere hull, which was
momentarily coming to pieces ; at this
critical juncture, the cutter unfortunately
went adrift; the jolly-boat was despatched
after it, and in the mean time the crew
were all employed in clearing and launch-
ing the long-boat. This was a long and
difficult operation, but as all our lives de-
pended on its success, the men exerted
themselves to the utmost. Before they
had fairly raised it from its place the

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 43

ship's back was broken, and at this mo-
ment I felt that nothing but a miracle
could save us. I lifted up my heart to
God, and exhorted Mrs. Thomason to do
so too. I committed myself and all my
concerns to Him. Meanwhile, a squall
of wind and rain caused the ship to beat
violently ; w^e all stood on the deck
drenched to the skin, looking with anx-
ious impatience to the launch of the long-
boat. The ladies and children, having
been roused suddenly from their beds,
were wet and half naked, and most piti-
able objects. I ran down into my cabin
to secure something from the wreck which
I might preserve, if saved from destruc-
tion, as a memorial. In vain I sought in
the confusion of the moment for my
pocket-bible ; at length, hastily snatching
up my Hebrew psalter, with a volume of
the Greek Testament, and my mother's
last and valued present, the Golden Trea-
sury, I put them into my bosom, and flew
to my dear Mrs. Thomason and the chil-

44 THE LIFE OF

dren on the deck. In passing through
the cabin to the ladder, it was painful to
hear the rushing of the water in the hold,
and to see the decks giving way, and the
boxes floating about on all sides. Arrived
on the deck, I remained with my deal

B , and had the pleasure of seeing the

long-boat launched into the water. The
captain then called for the ladies, who
were one by one conveyed into the boal
by a rope. The gentlemen followed, and
the crew, to the number of ninety-one :
more could not be admitted with safety.
In the cutter were eighteen, in the jolly-
boat eleven. A sail was hastily thrown
into the boat, and we left the wreck with
mingled sensations of joy, regret, and
apprehension. New dangers indeed were
now before us. Our other boats were out
of sight, and though we could see the
land from the ship, it was at a great dis-
tance ; our boat was crowded, the sea
high, the weather boisterous, and the shor^
^yhen reached, barbarous and inhospitable.

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 45

This was a trying situation. How little
did we think, a few hours before, that we
should in such circumstances cast a long-
ing, lingering look on the Travers. The
WTeck afforded a distressing spectacle ;
we turned our heads from the scene, and
looked before us, and committed ourselves
to the guidance of Providence. Danger-
ous as our situation was, I found it ex-
tremely difficult to realize the nearness
of death. I kept lifting up my heart to
God, and relied on his gracious protec-
tion. We had brought a little sail from
the wreck, which, with the help of our
oar, kept our boat before the wind. It
was about seven o'clock when we com-
mitted ourselves to the boat ; soon after^
a heavy squall of rain came on, which
rendered our situation still more gloomy
and distressing. At the end of an hour
and a half we saw the other two ships
at a great distance, and they, after we
perceived them, made sail from us.
This was a distressing moment, as our

46 THE LOE OF

last resource seemed to fail us. Mean
while a tremendous squall involved us in
darkness, and drenched us with sheets of
water. The boat shipped much water,
and it was extremely difficult, on account
of her being so heavy loaded, to keep her
before the wind ; at length, however, by
tlie good providence of God, the weather
cleared up, and we saw the other two
ships heave to, in order to receive us.
This was a cheering si2;ht, and with inex-
pressible joy we looked toward them, and
thanked God as we observed the lessening
distance. However, a third heavy squall
came on, and hid them from our view :
through this we were preserved by the
same gracious Providence, and as we ap-
proached the Earl Spencer, we saw the poop
and deck covered with spectators, behold-
ing our progress, and longing to receive
us. Passing under the stern, I felt quite
overpowered : it was indeed an affecting
sight. Above a hundred fellow-creatures,
rescued from a watery grave, were joy-

THOMAS T. THOMPSON. 47

fully received aboard, cheered by the loud
and cordial congratulations of their de-
liverers. It was a feast to the benevolent
captain of the Earl Spencer and the crew
to be instrumental in the preservation of
so many lives, and it was on our part a
deliverance never to be forgotten. The
continued emotions of joy, surprise, cor-
diality, gratitude, cannot be described ;
the thing must be seen to be felt. It was
half-past ten when we arrived at the ship,
having been three hours and a half ex-
posed in an open boat on a heavy sea,
during which time we had sailed about
ten miles. Before we arrived, a gentle-
man on board the Earl Spencer saw the
Travers break in the middle, and the fore
part go down. It afterwards blew very
hard, and there can be no doubt but that
before the afternoon, every vestige had
disappeared. I have omitted to say that
my dear E., awakened by the violence
of the shock, immediately fell on her
knees, and prayed with much earnestness

48 THE LIFE OF

that God would pardon her soul. It was
with difficulty she could be torn from the
bed. On deck she renewed her cries,
saying, ^ Let me die with papa. Lord,
forgive my sins for Christ's sake.' B.'s
agitation at first was very great, after-
wards it subsided. We stood all by one
another, and solemnly gave ourselves up
to God : and neither then, nor now, nor
at any preceding moment, did we feel the
smallest regret at having left our native
country. I had almost forgotten to men-
tion the attention of passengers towards
us. One of them ran hastily down and
recovered my watch, the alarum which
you gave me several years ago, and which
will be one hundred times more valuable
than ever. That, with the trifling articles
above mentioned, are all the riches that
remain to us. When we were obliged to
leave several of our fellow-creatures on
board, it was out of the question to en-
cumber a boat already overloaded. One
of the servants, seeing Mrs. Thomason

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 49

standins; in the heavy rain, without shoes
or stockings, approached her, saying,
* You have no shoes ; take mine.' I never
can forget this. Another brought her a
coat, a third a blanket for J. and a coat
for E. But I cannot convey an adequate
idea of the scene."

CHAPTER VI.

On his arrival in Calcutta, he met the
Rev. Mr. Brown, the missionary, there.

"We both," he writes, "sat down, but
it was long before my tears suffered me
to speak. They were tears, as I told him,
not of sorrow, but of joy and thankful-
ness, wonder and praise. He told us to
look around the walls — the furniture and
the house were ours. It was a house built
in faith and prayer as the residence of a
missionary, out of the contributions of a
number of poor persons, who, many years
past, had subscribed towards a fund for
E

50 THE LIFE OF

the support of the gospel, and united their
prayers that God would send them a mi-
nister. Need I say that every chair and
table spoke to us with a voice that thrilled
through our hearts and overwhelmed us?
Truly we could then praise God for our
shipwreck. We could see a good reason
for the dispensation. It was plain that
God had thrown us upon this praying
people, that he had cast us from the rest
of the world, and laid us under the obliga-
tions of Christian love, in order that we
may be devoted to the sacred charge of
feeding his sheep. He has placed us in
circumstances where every thing is actu-
ally the fruit of faith and love, in order
to teach us that we have but one thing to
do. Mr. Brown introduced us into the
church and vestry, where many had assem-
bled the evening before, to thank God for
our deliverance, and pray for a blessing
on the minister preserved to them. Since
we came here, we have had nothing to do
of a worldly nature ; all care has been

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 51

taken from us by our Christian friends
Think not of our hardships, losses, dan^
gers, but of the honour He has put upon
us in sending us to a praying people —
sending us, with loss of all, to persons who
supply our wants with tears of thankful-
ness ; let not a thought of assisting us
enter your minds — know all of you, we
stand in need of nothing but your prayers :
these we implore."

On the second Sunday after landing,
Mr. Thomason preached his first sermon in
India. Mr. Brown preached the same
day on the duty of thanksgiving for the
preservation of so many lives in the ship-
wreck. It has been often remarked that
neither the remarkable judgments nor
mercies of God often lead men to repent-
ance. It is generally the case that as soon
as their alarm is over, they return to
greater sin than before, and forget the
Lord that has afflicted and delivered them.
This has been observed in our own coun-
y when dreadful diseases, such as the

i>iC THE LIFE OF

cholera, have prevailed. Then men were
afraid for their lives, some left off their
open sins, and many went to the churches
to pray that the disease might be stopped.
But when the sickness was over, very few
remembered their resolutions and their
prayers, or returned thanks to God for
his mercy. So when our Lord cured ten
men of leprosy, one only gave glory to
God.* When the day of thanksgiving
was held at the church in Calcutta, very
few of the hundred and twenty -two who
were saved in such a wonderful manner
from death were present ; and when the
Lord's-supper was administered on the
same occasion, only four of them, besides
Mr. Thomason's family, were present
Nor was he contented with the mere ser-
vice of thanksgiving. He knew that the
event was intended for his good, and often
looked back to it, not only with new grati-
tude, but as a warning that he should be
more faithful and zealous in the cause of
* Luke xvii. 11—18.

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 53

his Saviour. Five months afterwards he
wrote to Mr. Simeon as follows : —

" I bless God the shipwreck has not been
wholly forgotten, though I seem to be only
beginning to improve it. If the Lord
himself had not been on our side, even
such a mercy would have been wholly
forgotten. Experience shows us that ex-
cept he give us grace to improve his dis-
pensations, no judgments, no mercies, no
warnings, will avail any thing. In our
almost miraculous escape from the deep,
God has given us a new and impressive
call, for which we have reason to bless
his name ; but moi^e especially have w^e
reason to bless him for not having suffered
rt to escape from our wretched hearts.
It has in some measure led us to renewed
earnestness and deep humiliation before
God, and now, at the end of five months, I
feel a growing sense of gratitude to the
Lord for having brought us to India in
the way he has. Many of our friends at
E 2

04 THE LIFE OF

home have pitied us, but indeed it is a great
matter of joy. I value it as a most pre-
cious jewel, and would not on any account
recover from the deep what we have lost,
even were it in my power. The Lord
moves in a mysterious way, but all his
doings are in faithfulness and mercy.
We were coming to India flushed with
hope, full of ardour and sanguine expec-
tations, much animal fervour, and an
amazing portion of self-sufficiency. He
casts us upon a rock ; it was a hard blow,
and it spoke loudly, ^ Mind what you
are about.' We were richly furnished
wuth books and stores of various kinds ;
he takes them all from us ; sends us here
as castaways, completely stripped of
every thing but our trust in him and hope
in his word. Blessed be his name, I say
again and again, that he gives us also a
heart to think of these things, and to pray
for a right improvement of them. The
searchings of heart on this occasion have
been very salutary, though painful ; and

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 55

we can testify to the praise of his grace,
that we are labouring with new earnest-
ness, new zeal, new love, new thankful-
ness, to live wholly for God. And now,
my dearly beloved friend, you have ex-
pressed a wish to hear something appro-
priate, w^hat can I say to you ? What can
I communicate to you but the actual work-
ings of my heart ? You will reasonably
expect that such an introduction to India
ought to be accompanied with important
effects on my own mind, and ought to lead
to a new and more devoted surrender of
myself to the Lord. I beseech you when
you write express freely your views upon
this subject. Tell me what effects ought
to follow from a dispensation of this na-
ture. I charge you before God, as you
value the cause of your blessed Redeemer,
and desire to promote it, to put me in
mind of these things with authority.
Ask whether I am living more nearly to
God : remind me of this very request I
am now making, that I may be stirred up

56 THE LIFE OF

to diligent self-examination, lest I be put
to shame before God and man. I pray
God that his blessing may rest upon you,
both in your public and private, and in
all your social duties : to all the dear
people at Shelford and Cambridge, pre-
sent my Christian love. I look back upon
my ministry amongst them with deep
shame and grief of heart I have injured
them all, and I shall never be able to ex-
press ihis to them in person. I cannot
but do it before God, and implore God
for my innumerable neglects and want
of spiritual zeal and faithfulness whilst
amongst them. I never loved them so
much as at this moment, and never so
earnestly desired their spiritual welfare.^

And on the return of the day a year
afterwards, he wrote thus : —

" The time, and situation, and circum
stances of the present moment are all si
hiteresting, that my full heart knows not

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 57

how to commence the present communi-
cation. It is the day after the memorable
7th of November, which we have been
spending together in retirement, six miles
down the river, at the house of a friend.
Yesterday we endeavoured to recall to
our minds the event of that day, and were
enabled, blessed be God, to humble our-
selves before him in some measure, and
to encourage ourselves and our beloved
children anew in his service. It was to
us a solemn and profitable day. The
situation is on the banks of that river to
which we came through such a mysterious
train of providences, and along which we
proceeded naked and destitute to the place
of our destination. The circumstances,
too, under which I write are peculiar.
At family prayer we had renewed our
vows of yesterday, and had withdrawn
into my study, and were conversing
together in the most serious manner,
when letters from Europe were put into
•ur hands, containing all the affectionate

58 THE LIFE OF

congratulations, sympathies, prayers, and
praises of our beloved friends. How af-
fecting a close to the profitable scene !
My mother's feelings were anticipated —
so were yours : but your kind and tender
expressions far exceed any thing we looked
for, and fill us with an overwhelming sense
of the undeserved goodness of God."

Whilst he was studying the languages
of the country, his services as a minister
could only be given to the English in-
habitants of Calcutta. His congregation
was at first not more than two hundred
and fifty persons.* He preached on the

• The first protestant mission in Bengal was esta-
blished by Rev. John Z. Kiernander, from the society
for promoting Christian knowledge, in 1766. He
formed a church in Calcutta, which was the only pro-
testant one in Bengal for about thirty years. He was
a successful minister in this church until 1787, when
the house was purchased and devoted to the purposes
of a missionary church. Rev. David Brown was the
successor of Mr. Kiernander until about 1811, when
he was followed by Mr. Thomason.

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 59

morning and evening of every Lord's-
day, and on every Thursday evening ; and
on Saturday he instructed the children,
who met in the church with their parents
and friends. One evening in the week
was spent in meeting at private houses
for prayer and the explanation of the
Scriptures. His daily employments were
thus regulated :

^* We rise very early, and return from
our morning rides by six ; at half-past
six we have family prayer ; at seven we
breakfast. Between that and two, I am
in my study ; at two we dine ; at three I
am in my study again till five, then we
have family prayer ; from six till nine or
ten is occupied in riding and visiting
friends ; in private parties and public
duties. I have found it necessary to de-
cline all invitations to dinner, without
exception. This has enabled me to be
regular, and very retired without giving
offence."

"You have no idea in England (he

60 THE LIFE OF

writes, alter a somewhat lono;er residence
in India) of the peculiar difficulties which
oppose the progress of the gospel in this
place. They are prodigious, and in the
highest degree discouraging ; arising partly
from the nature of the climate, and partly
from the nature of society, and chiefly
from the close intercourse with the
wretched natives, who are more degraded
than you can imagine, and who have the
entire charge of children, and manage-
ment of household matters. The natives
swarm around us, and corrupt the minds
of children from the earliest years. To
an Englishman, the effect of their exam-
ple, and the contagion of their language
and practices, cannot be adequately repre-
sented. Some favourable exceptions, but
only a few, can be mentioned. Religion
alone raises them — this gives a solidity
of character — they become trusty and
well-behaved. These form a great ma-
jority of our congregations. The number
of rich people and company's servants

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 61

who come to church is comparatively
small. The better sort of people send
their children home at five or six ; until
then, they are under the charge of native
servants, and their minds are poisoned as
far as they can be at that tender age.
The parting from them is heart-breaking.
They part with them very often never
to see them more. This produces a sad
derangement in society. There is no
such thing as a domestic circle. The
olive branches round the table, so delight-
ful in England, are unknown. The chil-
dren cannot even speak their mother
tongue ; they have to learn English on
their way home. There is a dissolution
of all the tender, amiable, cheering house-
hold virtues. These observations apply
to' the far greater number amongst us.
Some there are who diligently labour
against these disadvantages. They live
retired, and do all they can to counteract
the influence of the native servants. If
very conscientious, they may succeed ;
F

62 THE LIFE OF »

but the instances are very rare — the sacri
fices of liberty and pleasure are so great.
The business of a minister lies in encou-
raging those who are making some en-
deavours for the good of their families ;
in assisting and presiding over their efforts
— but the progress must be slow. It is a
fixed rule with us, that the children are
always in the presence of one amongst
us. We never suffer them, not for a mo-
ment, to have any intercourse with tl\e
servants alone.''

CHAPTER VII.

Mr. Thomason's congregation soon in-
creased, and his discourses were received
with deep and solemn attention, and he
knew of several instances in which they
were blessed to the conversion of souls.
Before he had preached six months the
house of worship had to be enlarged, and
he found great happiness in his work.

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 63

" You know," he wrote to Mr. Simeon,
* the nature of regular employment in
the pulpit ; the word of God does not ap-
pear to be very rapidly advancing, yet we
hear of much that encourages us. The
work of catechising seems to promise
good. But we want the outpouring of
the Spirit ; and until the Spirit be poured
upon us from on high, no very great good
can take place amongst us : we are pray-
ing for this ; without this we may toil all
night and catch nothing. 0 that the
preacher may catch the sacred fire, and
the people rejoice and be glad !

" I find our Thursday evenings profita-
ble times. We are going through the
gospel of St. John : the congregation
does not much exceed one hundred and
fifty people. But they come to hear plain
truths, and we often find the Lord is with
us indeed. We are in the sixth chapter —
the bread of life. My subject this even-
ing includes these two verses, ' He that
eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood,

64 THE LIFE OE

dwelleth in me, and I in him. As thc>
living Father hath sent me, and I live by
the Father, so he that eateth me, even he
shall live by me.' What can a poor
empty creature say of the fulness there
is in Jesus ? what can I say of Jesus
dwelling in me, and my dwelling in
Jesus ? 0 how we fritter away these
passages, if we are not living nigh to
God, and enjoying the glorious knowledge
of the gospel in daily dependence on the
Redeemer. This I want very m.uch, very
lamentably, and my people will be mea-
gerly fed. That word ^ dwelleth in me,
and I in them,' fills my soul with wonder,
and abases me to the dust. I would know
it, and feel it, but know not how. I would
speak of it and recommend it, but have
no heart for the marvellous theme. Will
God in every deed dwell in this diseased
polluted heart ? Does He dwell there } —
and can I, a vile and wretched sinner, be
said to dwell in him ? Though I scarcely
dare say, Yes, yet I fain would come and

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 65

cast myself upon the Saviour. It is my
only refuge and hope, and if this reposing
of the soul in Jesus be indeed to eat his
flesh, and drink his blood, I would now
do it, yea, I must do it. Still I cannot
lay hold of that word — ^ dwelleth in me,
and I in him.' I feel very remote from
this ; it is too high, I cannot reach it.
I feel like a blind man leading the blind.
My comfort lies in the freeness and sove-
reignty of God's grace ; for while it gives
^rong meat to those who are fall grown,
it administers milk to the babe.

" My dear and honoured brother, you
know not how very far I am from being
a minister of the gospel. I am no gospel
minister, for I know it not. I sit down
and pen some miserable thoughts on Scrip-
ture, and occupy a certain portion of time
in talking about the love of God, and the
sufficiency of Jesus, and the work of the
Spirit ; but it is sad trifling with myself
and my hearers. Surprising is that blind-
ness which hides from me the glory of
F 2

66 THE LIFE OF

the gospel, and that unbelief which puts
it away from my soul, and that dishonesty
which starts from the presence of a holy
God, and excludes me, if I may so say,
from the holy of holies : but where am I
wandering ? — this is very unprofitable to
you. 0 my brother, pardon me, and
weep over me, and pray for me. One
good end will be answered by this com-
munication, you will know better how tG
pray for me. I want, for myself and
people, more of the simplicity of the
gospel. I want to come to Christ and
bring them with me : I long for the
time when the glory of the Redeemer
and fulness of this salvation shall so oc-
cupy my mind, that in studying and
preaching I may have no other object in
view, but speak always out of the abun-
dance of the heart.

"There are great snares attending
our technical mode of sermon-making.
Though I speak to a man famous for
Helps to Composition, I speak the truth;

TKOMAS T. THOMASON. 67

and know the danger of this *art of
preaching ;' we are apt to chalk out our
work, and cut and prune, and then what
a judicious, fine, persuasive discourse is
this ! And oftentimes our love of Christ
and of souls evaporates in our neat exor-
dium, and luminous distribution and close
application to the sermon. I am ashamed,
and tired, and sick, heart-sick of this.
I have smarted for it, and do every day."
When a ship was taken by the French,
by which his friends at home had sent
him a number of books and other tokens
of their affection, he said : " It seems as
though God would complete the weaning
he has begun ; and we bless him for it.
Every thing by which England could be
remembered is swept away : but what is
above all price, the bond of love is in-
creased a thousand fold ; we are more one
with you in spirit ; more closely united
in Christ, more endeared by the common
interest we feel at the throne of grace,
and the common prospect of glory."

68 THE LIFE 01'

In the second hot season of his resi-
dence in Calcutta, he suffered so much
from the climate, that he was obliged to
leave his duties for several weeks, and
take an excursion up the Hoogly river.
His description of the climate shows how
trying it must be to persons who come
from one that is milder and more re2;uiar.

" April : it is the middle of the hot
season, we have fiery days and stormy
nights. Thus it has pleased a gracious
Providence to temper the severities of the
climate. If the hot days were to con-
tinue long, we should sink at once. When
the refreshing winds fail us, the sultriness
is almost insupportable. Then comes a
storm that cools the air. Then the heat
returns. Then the lull. Then again the
storm for several days successively. We
rise to go forth and inhale the cool of the
morning and rejoice. About June comes
the rainy season for two months. This
refreshes us. From the middle of August
to the middle of October, the clouds having

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 69

poured forth their contents, the country-
is soaked. The winter having left us,
the heat of the sun draws forth the mois-
ture, and we live almost in a hot bath.
All nature seems to droop — man, beast,
and vegetable sympathize with each other.
Were this season to be prolonged, few
could endure it. About the middle of
October we have sharp mornings and bra-
cing airs. Thus the years go round."

He tried to make every occurrence use-
ful to his own heart. Dating his letter
Chinsurah, October 1, 1810, he writes
— " We are thirty miles up the river :
this change has been rendered necessary
by the state of my health, which began
to suffer during the last rainy season.
I have spent a month on the water. I
went to the mouth of the river for sea
air, and then proceeded up the river.
Through the great mercy of God this
has been very useful. God only knows
what is to be the end of all our attacks,
and what the term of our lives. Te

70 THE LIFE OF

be in his hands, who has the keys of
death and hell, is an unspeakable privilege.
I feel it to be so, and rejoice. The cli-
mate has begun evidently to affect me,
and it will be necessary for me to contract
my exertions of body and mind. The
constant employment of mind in this
country is unfavourable to health and
even dangerous. Before I was laid by,
I began to visit the hospital once a week,
from which little labour some good has
sprung up. But we are all in a low state,
our proceedings are slow and infantine.
The reflections which have passed in my
mind during my excursion on the water
have been rather of a discouraging nature.
Yet though discouraging — the discovery
of the truth, painful as it is at the time,
may be an unspeakable blessing. Who
knows but that the discovery of my own
barrenness and manifold neglects, by the
blessing of God, may lead to more -enlarged
usefulness in his church. I have lately
liad much to think of, much to mourn

THOMAS T. THOMASON. "71

over, much to pray for, and much, very
much, to be thankful for. And now, with
renewed strength of body, I would fain
take up my charge again in a new spirit.

"We are become weaned from all
Europe expectations. The losses by capn
ture and shipwreck of late have made the
heart sick. You cannot conceive the ge-
neral mourning that has been produced
amongst us. It has been dangerous to
mention the missing ships in company,
lest the heart of some bereaved parent or
husband should be made sad.

" After being laid low from official en-
gagements for six weeks, it was not with-
out the greatest emotion I resumed my
labours. It has pleased God to teach me
something by shipwreck, but he has taught
me more by bodily affliction. The dan-
ger and alarm then were temporary, but
illness gives many opportunities of serious
reflection. I have had long seasons of
pain and depression, which have, I trust,
through the mercy of God, been sancti-

72 THE LIFE OF

fied to my soul. I have seen much ol
the unbelief, pride, impatience, and dis*
honesty of my heart. Here I am begin-
ning my work as it were again, and I pray
God to enable me by his good Spirit to
press forward toward the mark of the
prize of my high calliifg.

" We have never yet seen Mr. Martyn,
but hope to be gratified in the course of a
few months. He has at length determined
to try the sea air. He has been brought
very low.''

Soon after this, the religious people at
Calcutta had the happiness of seeing
Henry Martyn, who stopped there a short
time in travelling from Cawnpore to
Arabia. The interview of the mission-
aries was full of joy, though mingled with
apprehension for Martyn's health. Mr.
Thomason wrote to Mr. Simeon.

" He is on his way to Arabia in pursuit
of health and knowledge. You know his
genius, and what gigantic strides he takes
in every thing. He has some great plan

THOMAS T. TIIOMASON-. 75^

in his mind, of which I am no competent
judge. But as far as I do understand,,
the object is far too grand for our short
life, and much beyond his feeble and ex-
hausted frame. Feeble indeed it is ! how
fallen and changed ! — his complaint lies in
the lungs, and appears to be incipient con-
sumption. But let us hope the sea air
will revive him, and that change of place
and pursuit may do him essential service,
and continue his life many years. In all
other respects he is exactly the same as
he was : he shines in all the dignity of
love, and seems to carry about him such
a heavenly majesty as impresses the mind
beyond all description. But if he talks
much, though in a low voice, he sinks, and
you are reminded of his being dust and
Ashes. — It would have filled your eyes,
with tears to have seen dear [proba-
bly ^Nlrs. Thomason] when she saw him ;
you know her smile and hearty counte-
nance, and eyes darting p;ood-nature, but
vou never saw them so called forth. We

a

74 THE LIFE OF

Avere all filled with joy unspeakable, and
blessed God for the rich opportunity of
loving intercourse."

Whilst in Calcutta, Martyn preached
his sermon for the Bible society, which
Avas followed by so much blessing, and
his other labours during his short stay
were highly useful.*

CHAPTER VIII.

The institution of the Calcutta Bible
jociety gave great joy to the friends of
religion. It caused inquiry among the
people, and the opposition that was made
to it only caused the subject to be more
talked of, and the Bible to be examined.
^Ir. Thomason said, "It is impossible to
.describe the joy I feel in contemplating
the probable harvest of knowledge, piety,
.and happiness which will arise from this

* The life of Henry Martyn has been published by
dhe American S. S. Union, in a volume of 246 pages.

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 75

institution in this quarter of the globe.
It gives greater stability to our proceed-
ings than the most splendid conquests."

Shortly after this, Abdool Messeeh, a
native of Hindoostan and a Mohammedan,
was baptized at Calcutta. His first reli-
gious impressions had been received whilst
hearing Mr. Marty n, and he became a
'iseful missionary to his countrymen.*
Mr. Martyn^s translation of the New
Testament into Hindoostanee was finished
and about to be published. In addition
to these causes of encouragement, INIr.
Thomason's own ministry was greatly
blessed. " It would fill your heart with
joy," he tells iNIr. Simeon, "to see us
here. Whatever reason we have had for-
merly to see the hand of God in our
coming to India, has been greatly increased
of late. New scenes of usefulness open ;
my hands are now quite full, and through

* An account of Abdool IMesseeh, and of his minis-
try, with a portrait, is given in an appendix to the life
of Martyn, published by the Am. S. S. Union.

76 THE LIFE OF

mercy, I see the gradual operation of a
gospel ministry. Some persons of late
have been brought to a serious concern
for their souls. Those who were once
scoffers hear and weep, and endeavour to
promote the cause they formerly despised ;
and our own people, which is a great
mercy, and received as an answer to
prayer, are more united amongst each
other."

His views of his own insufficiency
for the great work that was before him,
though perhaps just, show that he was
not forgetful of his own heart, in try-
ing to do good to others. '' I feel the
necessity of a close and diligent reading
of the Scriptures. It is in:ipossible to
occupy the teacher's chair with advantage
to our hearers, except we are very much
engaged in experimental reading of the
Scriptures ourselves. 0 what treasures
are to be found in the word of God !
Blessed be God for a little sense of them !
-would that I could give my whole

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 77

heart and soul to them. But I am as yet
only on the surface of things ; this at the
age of thirty-seven. God knoweth I de-
plore my Ignorance, and count myself to
be a mere novice, and feel unspeakably
unworthy to preach Christ to lost sinners.
I want to have my heart warmed with his
love. But oh, my exceeding vileness and
hardness of heart!" At the same time
the difficulties and discouragements that
he had to meet ought to be remem.bered.
'"' The state of society here, and the state
of the climate, oppose difficulties which
you can hardly appreciate if described.
The climate has influence upon one's
natural sloth in a thousand ways ; and
society is so constituted, that we are op-
posed at every step by the pride of rank,
and office, and colour, to a degree surpass-
ing all conception. Had I chosen to live
here in the state and dignity of chaplain,
my path would have been easy, but in the
attempt at a parochial line of labour [that
is, not only preaching, but visiting his
o 2

78' THE LIFE OF

congregation, &c.], the difficulties are pro-
digious. I find my heart sick sometimes,
aiid learn the drift of that verse in Eccle-
siastes, ' that which is crooked cannot be
made straight.' In England, different
classes mingle easily : here, even after
religion has its decided hold on a man,
he remembers his little insulated sphere,
and finds it hard to be cordial with those
who are above him, or with those who are
beneath him : not with those above him,
the,pride of the great produces a reaction
in the lower order ; not with those below
him, for obvious reasons. To relieve my-
self from such painful inconsistencies, I
find the best practical remedy is to be
much in company with the most wretched,
the diseased, the poor, the sick, and dying.
These are thankful to hear the words of
life. I have much comfort at times with
the poor invalid soldiers in the hospital.
About fifty attend, and I visit them twice,
on Tuesday and Friday evenings. With re-
spect to the sick — the miserable sick peo

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 79

pie in this truly miserable place— I mourn
over m3'self and them ; I go rather with
tlie hope of good to myself than to them.
So rich is the mercy of God, and so pre-
cious the service of our master, some of
the happiest moments I enjoy are in going
to, or returning from, these unhappy crea-
tures."

Several disastrous events occurred in
the year 1812. The printing office of the
baptist mission at Serampore, fifteen
miles from Calcutta, was burned on the
11th of March. There were in the house
at the time of the fire two thousand reams
of paper, and types in fifteen languages,
all of which were destroyed. Nine edi-
tions of the New Testament, and five of
the Old, in various Eastern languages,
were in the progress of printing at the
time, besides various other works of the
missionaries. The loss was immense.
Mr. Thomason went to Serampore a?
soon as he heard of the fire. ^' I could
scarcely believe the report ; it was like a

I

80 THE LIFE OF

blow on the head which stupifies. I flew
to Serampore to witness the desolation.
The scene was indeed affecting. The
immense printing office, two hundred feet
long and fifty broad, reduced to a mere
shell. The yard covered witli burnt
quires of paper, the loss in which article
was immense. Carey walked with me
over the smoking ruins. The tears stood
in his eves. ^ In one short eveninsr,' said
he, * the labours of years are consumed
How unsearchable are the ways of God '
I had lately brought some things to the
atmost perfection of which they seemed
^apable, and co^Jiemplated the missionarv
establishment ^-ith, perhaps, too much
self-gratuk. /. ^ The Lord has laid me
low, tnat ■- ^f.': look more simply to him.'
Who could uj \ d in such a place," he asks,
''at such a tir .:, with such a man, without
feelings of s?i^;p regret, and solemn exer-
cise of mind. I saw the ground strewed
with half consumed paper, on which, in
the course of a very few months, the

THOMAS T. THOMASOX. 81

words of life would have been printed.
The metal under our feet amidst the ruins
was melted into misshapen lumps — the
sad remains of beautiful types consecrated
to the service of the sanctuary. All was
smiling and promising a few hours before
— ^now all is vanished into smoke and
converted into rubbish ! — adding with
self-application, — ' Return now to thy
books, regard God in all thou doest
Learn Arabic with humility. Let God
be exalted in all thy plans, and purposes,
and labours ; he can do without thee.' ''

Dr. Marshman, in writing an account of
the calamity to England, says, "Poor Mr.
Thomason wept like a child on hearing
of it. He begs us to make a minute
statement of our loss, and says he will
use all his interest in our behalf.''

Another affliction was the sickness
and death of his friend, the Rev. Mr.
Brown, who had laboured in Calcutta
without compensation, and deserved the
tribute which is inscribed on a mar-

82 THE LIFE OF

ble in the church : " To the poor the
gospel was preached in this church by
the Rev. David Brown, during a period
of twenty-five years." This was followed
by the death of Henry jMartyn, in Persia,
in October, 1S12. " Few," he exclaimed,
" have reason to mourn individually as I
have : with him I hoped to spend my
days in mutual deliberation and united
labour. Here in a short time he would
have been fixed, and hence we neither
of us would have wished to stir a foot.
He has often said it to me. 1 fondly
counted on his return full fraught with
health and Arabic. On this his heart
was set, though not for itself It has
pleased God to remove him to the rest
for which he had been panting, and from
which nothing but the love of his work
here would willingly have detained him.
With his presence in Calcutta, the Persian
and Arabic versions would have pro-
ceeded with spirit ; he was so eminently
qualified with all needful endowments

THOMAS T. THOMASOX. 83

for a good translator. The great Head
of the church lives, that is our consola-
tion. I have learnt more than ever what
that Scripture means, ' Cease ye from
man, whose breath is in his nostrils.' "

"We are deeply wounded," are his
words in another letter ; " his walk was
so grand, his labours so important, his
attainments so rare ! 0 how fondly we
counted upon his future labours ! how
the heart leaped for joy at the thought
of Martyn's successful career in Persia,
and hoped-for return to Calcutta. Here
. he hoped to return and spend his days,
having often said to us there was no spot
in the world so dear to him as Calcutta ;
we responded with affection to his notes
of love, and panted with eager desire to
see him. Often have our petitions been
offered up at our social meetings for his
preservation and success. Once espe-
cially the conversation at table was
wholly engrossed with Martyn, and the
prayers w^hich followed were unusually

?'4 THE LIFE OF

fervent. The very next day we heari]
of the termination of his career.

"You can judge of the extent of my
disappointment and depth of my sorrow.
Here I had hoped to spend the remainder
of my days with that honoured minister,
participating his labours, administering
to his comforts, and roused by his exam-
ple. But it has pleased the great Head
of the church to take him to himself —
it hath pleased Him, and dare we repine ?
No event within my recollection has filled
me with so much sorrow, and caused so
hard a conflict between faith and unbelief,
from which I have learnt much of the
idolatry of the heart, and of its rebellious
opposition to the will of God. We idol-
ized this rare creature : so the Lord lias
removed him, and taught us more simple
dependence upon himself The expe-
rience has been bitter, the ultimate fruit
I hope will be sweet. Our great Head
remains, and He shall see of the travail
of His soul and be satisfied. If He is

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 83

satisfied we may well be so ; who knows
how He may bless us in our bereaved
state ?

" Where are all those zealous young
men who assembled in your town-hall,
and helped forward your Biblical associa-
tions ? 0 that they would take the map
of India in their hands. 0 that the Lord
would dispose their hearts to look upon
this immense country with Christian ten-
derness and compassion. — The labourers
must be disposed to cheerfulness — a melan-
choly turn of mind is highly unfavourable
in India. The climate itself depresses
more than you can conceive. In all your
estimates of characters let cheerfulness
be considered an essential requisite."

From the time of Mr. Brown's death
until the end of IS 13, Mr. Thomason's
labours were unusually great. Until that
time he had no assistant in the church,
and considering his duties to that congre-
gation as first in importance, he did not
neglect them for any thing else. Besides
H

86 THE LIFE OF

these duties, he was engaged in revising
the Arabic version of the Scriptures, and
in conducting through the press INIr. Mar-
tyn's Hindoostanee New Testament. He
executed, also, at the desire of the govern-
ment, the office of examiner in Arabic,
in the college at Fort William ; and as if
this were not enough, he was preparing
further work for himself by inviting the
Church Missionary Society to place two
missionaries in his house, whom he under-
took to instruct gratuitously in oriental
literature. But the project that, of all
others, lay nearest his heart, was the
establishment of native schools ; and, as a
preparatory step, a school for schoolmas-
ters.

Of the plan of native schoolmasters,
^Ir. Thomason said, " This school would
be a noble establishment. I despair of
seeing any great good done in a place
where the objects of ignorance and vice
are innumerable, until some such institu
tion has been formed. But I fear it would

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 87

not suit the adventurous and grand and
dasliing spirit of the age. The good
people of England would suppose that a
free school containing 1000 children, must
be tenfold more productive than one con-
taining 24 children, not considering the
great importance of having one school-
master, they would suppose the money
almost wasted. Schoolmasters must be
made here, not in England. Those in
England expect more pay, and can bear
less fatigue, and must be formed here after
their arrival. Much is to be learned be-
fore they can labour here efficiently. The
thing to be most earnestly prayed for is,
that government would support this esta-
blishment. It would be a noble item of
expenditure. The benefit would be dis-
tant, at present scarcely perceptible, but
future generations would arise and call us
blessed. This plan has been long in my
mind. It is far from being new, but in
this place the application of it to prac-
tice is very difficult, arising partly from

88 THE LIFE OF

localities which it is not easy to explain
to an European, and partly from the indo-
lent spirit of the place, and partly from
the great paucity of efficient labourers
The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice ;
sure we are, that the good that is done upon
earth, he doeth it, and when he acts, none
can stay his hand."

In the year 1812, Messrs. Judson, New-
ell, Nott, Hall, and Rice sailed from the
United States as missionaries to India.
A few days after their arrival in Calcutta,
an order of the British government was
read to them, directing them to leave the
country. Mr. and Mrs. Newell accord-
ingly sailed for the isle of France, in the
Indian ocean, where JNIrs. Newell died
soon after her arrival. INIr. and Mrs.
Judson and iNIr. Rice soon joined Mr
Newell.*

• The American S, S. Union have published the
life of Mrs. Judson, prepared for that purpose by Kev
Mr. Knowles, in a volume of 266 pages ; and the life
of Mrs. Newell, in a volume of the same size.

THOMAS T. TH0MA90N. 89

These proceedings caused Mr. Thoma-
son great pain, and it was a severe trial
to him and the friends of religion every-
where to see these men, who had devoted
their lives to the welfare of a nation of
idolaters, driven by a Christian govern-
ment from the land. Whilst the Ameri-
can missionaries were still at Bombay, the
earl of Moira, the new governor-general
of India, arrived in Calcutta. Mr. Tho-
mason and his friends were consulting at
the moment of his arrival what could be
done to change the sentence of the mis-
sionaries. '' Our new governor-general,"
he said, " is arrived. Hope is revived.
His language will not, I hope, be altered
by the climate of India. He comes with
noble intentions and great promises. What
he w^ll do cannot be conjectured ; but
he is about to be put to a hard trial.
The late governor having peremptorily
ordered all the missionaries away who
came from America, they went to Bombay.
There a government order followed them,
h2

90

THE LIFE OF

commanding sir Evan Nepean to send
them off by the first opportunity. Sir
Evan is their friend, but cannot resist
authority. •Nlr. Udney, Dr. Carey, and
myself are about to prepare a memorial
to the new government on the subject,
entreating permission for the missionaries
to reside quietly in the country. We
should not have chosen so early and strong
a test of lord Moira's principles, if we
had been left to our own judgment. But
the ship in which the dear missionaries
are ordered away is on the point of sail-
ing. If speedy exertion be not made,
they will be gone. May it please God
to touch the heart of the governor-general,
and incline him to comply with our re-
quest ! They are good men, full of zeal,
ripe for usefulness — the harvest great
The expense of their journeying already
is enormous — what a reproach that a
Christian government should turn them
back, and sport with the best interests
of its subjects !''

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 91

But nothing could be obtained favoura-
ble to the missionaries, and they departed,
leaving with the governor of Bombay a
vindication of their character and inten-
sions.

In 4814 the governor-general requested
Mr. Thomason to propose a plan for the
education of the natives, a subject which
was of the greatest importance to the
country and to the progress of religion,
for, as he observed, " If we would reform
effectually, we must instruct, and if we
would instruct effectually, we must have
institutions in which instruction holds the
principal place." He also appointed him
to perform service statedly at Barrackpoor,
his country residence, and as his chaplain
to accompany him on the journey he was
about to take through the provinces of his
";overnment.

" Public and private duties," he writes
" increase upon me. Where ^here is too
much burden, part must be neglected, and
very much imperfectly sustained. I see

92 THE LIFE OF

SO many things undone, and so many
things ill-done, I am continually sighing
for help. Relief I trust is near. This
important field of labour will not, I hope,
be left unprovided with labourers. It
seems strange that young men have not
been more ready to follow up the work
of God in India. Perhaps the danger of
the sea and climate are overrated. They
are not so formidable as timid people con-
sider them. But even if they were, when
we see them continually encountered in
the pursuit of honour and wealth, it is
somewhat reproachful that pious students
of the ministry should be deterred. Last
Thursday I finished my lectures on St
John ; — I have been four years and a half
in going through that edifying gospel ;
and I may add^ with thankfulness to the
great Head of the church, not without
many cheering tokens of his presence.
Our congregation on Thursday evening
evidently improves. On Sunday evenings
too we are well filled, in the mornings wo

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 93

have a regular congregation. Whilst the
power of religion is progressive among
Europeans, it is a matter of great joy to
see that the work prospers in different
parts of the country. The Scriptures are
in continual motion, in different languages
and with increasing success. To God be
the glory. It is surprising how all do-
mestic arrangements on your side of the
water and ours dwindle into insignificance.
It seems a matter of unspeakable indif-
ference whether our children are in town
or country, in India or in England, or
what becomes of them and ourselves, pro-
vided we are all at our posts, serving the
Lord in our respective spheres, living to
his glory, and labouring for his cause.
Then all prospers. We sometimes feel
however as if we should like to have all
things our own way — many Martyns —
a host of Corries — daily conversions.'^

94 THE LIFE OF

CHAPTER IX.

In the summer of 1S14, ]Mr. Thoma-
son left Calcutta in company with earl
Moira, the governor-general, on his tour.
As this was expected to occupy nearly
a year, the length of the journey beina
upwards of two thousand miles, lie fel
great anxiety about undertaking it. But
he left his church in the care of a faithful
minister, and thought that he could not
have a more favourable opportunity of
attaining information to assist him in pre-
paring his plan for the education of the
people ; he also thought he could by this
means be more able to engage the govern-
or's attention to the moral condition of
the ignorant and depraved inhabitants,
than he would be at home. '• Whilst
Mr. Robertson takes care of my cluirch,
I am proceeding on a new work, under
very new circumstances. Tlie governor's
party is very large ; near 500 boats at-

THOMAS T. THOMASON. ' 95

tended him. He is splendid and stately,
and his march through the country will
be more magnificent than that of any pre-
ceding governor. The opportunity of
seeing the country, and conversing with
every person of intelligence and piety
may be highly important. I mean to keep
the grand object in view, the formation
and execution of school plans. Sabat,
the translator, accompanies me ; our Ara-
bic version therefore continues, and the
proof sheets follow us up the country.
My public ministerial work will be one
service on Sundays, in the family boat
of the governor-general, to which the
party will have access. Corrie [the prin-
cipal European clergymen] has been again
attacked with his old complaint. He
Avrote to me a fortnight ago, begging my
advice as to his going home. I could
not hesitate to recommend the measure ;
strongly as we shall feel and mourn, yet
forasmuch as the work of Christ is the
most blessed of all works, it is fit that he

96 THE LIFE OF

should flee, that his precious life may be
prolonged for future good. I expect we
shall meet on the river ; when we come
to his widowed church at Agra, we shall
find sorrow, where we looked for joy.
Corrie goes, who is the leader, the pattern,
the father. 0, when shall we see more
labourers arrive in our vineyard ! Yet
we rejoice in the Lord's presence, and
believincr that he acts in a manner to us
invisible and inscrutable, we can look to
him through the gloom, and go forward
with hope. I felt much at parting with
the dear people ; the affection of many
was called forth. On the last two Thurs
day evenings, I have been taking leave,
conceiving that the important concern for
us all is to see that we have the grace of
God in truth, and walk consistently with
such a profession, I spoke on the parable
of the virgins for the former subject, on
that of the talents for the latter, conclud-
ing on Sunday with a sermon on follow-
ing peace and holiness. On these occa-

THO:\IAS T. TMOIVIASOX. 9?

sions I have delivered my whole soul,
and now looking back on my ministry,
I mourn over its unprofitableness. 0 that
the blessing of God may come down on
Mr. Robertson, and prosper his ministry !
Separate in body, I am still with him and
his flock in spirit ; if spared to return to
my charge, may I come to it in more life,
and love, and earnestness."

Shortly before setting out he sent his
eldest son to England. " The bracing air
of Europe, we hope, will do him good ;
how greatly shall I rejoice, if he should
prove willing and qualified to follow his
father to India, and labour here in the
gospel. But this is with the Lord. I
dare not plan ; but blessed be God, I can
pray. I cannot convey to you what his
poor mother felt ; my own pangs seem to
have been forgotten in hers. 0 it was a
bitter parting ! However, it is now over,
and we both acquiesce in the step as wise
and proper. It is one of the greatest
I

98 THE LIFE OF

parental duties to send him home — can a
parent then hesitate ?'^

The first eight hundred miles of the tour
was by water, most of the rest was over-
land. Mr. Thomason's letters will furnish
the best history of his cmploynicnts and
feelings durins: the time.

" At i>Ionghir I was asked to preach
in the evenino; for the benefit of the sta-
tion. A few invalids attended, and a
band of eight or ten European residents.
We were detained a week, the weather
wet and gloomy, and all beginning to feel
the effects of a very unwholesome spot
We were anchored in a low marshy place,
at a distance from the hills. I can ill
describe the vexation, and discontent, and
complainings of almost all in the fleet.
It was indeed a sufficiently dull week,
where there were no resources. What a
mercy to be relieved from the tedium and
disgust to which we find so many a prey.
Here we are in one little cabin, cheerful

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 99

and happy, and constantly employed.
When we are engaged in our morning
and evening readings, the heart overflows
with thankfulness for the distinguished
blessings God confers upon us, in having
given us a love for his word, and a desire
after a remembrance of his name. W
sung together this morning the hymn

, and could rejoice in the thought

that the fountain is opened to us guilty
polluted sinners. The defilement of sin
is not more felt, because the glory of God
is not more seen. One glimpse of his
holy character will make us lie low in the
dust. I have heard of thee by the hear-
ing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth
thee ; but fallen man is without God in
the world ; how great is the blessing to
have his authority in some measure re-
stored, and his throne set up in the heart.
I hear Mr. Robertson is not quite well,
pray tell me the truth ; he must not be
overworked. I am within call — when-
ever you say ^ it is time to come back,

100 THE LIFE OF

the church wants you/ I shall apply for
dismissal.

" In ascending the Ganges, and visiting
the towns and villages on its banks, we
see the enormous population of degraded
beings with our eyes. The first place
of in;portance was Moorshedabad, the
once famous metropolis of Bengal, an
immense city, swarming with inhabitants,
but exhibiting the sad marks of decayed
greatness. Oh, it was an affecting sight
to look around at the countless throngs.
and observe moral, political, and religious
degradation, without one cheering symp-
tom of improvement. We have destroyed
the political importance of the natives,
stripped them of their power, and laid
them prostrate, without giving them any
thing in return. They possess neither
learning, nor emulation, nor power.
Every spring of action seems deadened ;
they wallow in the filth of a senseless
and impure religion, without any prospect
of deliverance. You can conceive no-

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 101

thing more wretched than Hindoo towns
and villages. Nothing like architecture,
except in their temples ; the streets nar-
row and dirty, the houses inexpressibly
mean, filled with inhabitants whose ap-
pearance is disgusting in the extreme.
At Benares, I ventured to visit the shrine
held so sacred. It was an oppressive sight
I hastened from the place, and thanked
God for the gospel. If I do not return
to my charge with more of a missionary
spirit, it will be my own fault. To behold
such a mass of putrefied matter, and not
be concerned about providing the means
of life and health, is criminal in the ex-
treme. Blessed be God for some little
zeal. Had I obtained nothing more than
an increased sense of the importance of
ministerial labour, I should be richly re-
paid."

But notwithstanding this proof of the
necessity of instruction, Mr. Thomason
was distressed to find that the governor
I 2

102 THE LIFE OF

appeared to take little interest in providing
the means.

At Cawnpore, which Henry ^Nlartyn
had left to go to Arabia, the governor met
one of the natives, of great wealth and
rank, who was encamped on the bank
of the Ganges. A bridge of boats was
made across the river, and trains of ele-
phants and rich presents were constantly
passing from one party to the other, Bui
another object filled more of the mission-
ary's thoughts than all the splendour of
that scene. ^* In these sandy plains I have
been tracing again and again the days of
Martyn. Close by me is the house that
dear minister occupied, leading to which
is the gloomy line of aloes spoken of by
]\Irs. Sherwood. — Ofor INIartyn's hum,ility
and love (he afterwards wrote) : those who
knew him can bear testimony to the truth
of his Christian walk. His standard of
every duty was the highest, and his feel-
ings of joy, sorrow, love, most intense ;

THOMAS T. THOMASOX. 103

whilst bis conversalioii was always in
heaven, the savour of liis holy disposition
was as ointment poured forth. Many
parts of his experience can only be appre-
ciated by those who enter deeply into the
divine life. In proportion as we discern
wiiat is spiritual in its excellence and
glory, we shall understand his lowly self-
abasing reflections on what he observed
within. He was transported by a glory,
of which common Christians only obtain
a glimpse. And 0 how is all explained,
when we behold him entering his closet,
and holding communion with God with
such delight, such unw^earied constant en-
joyment ! Wo unto us if we do not pray
more, live more above the world, and deny
ourselves more, and love Christ more.
Are we not hoping to see him in a happier
state ? the Lord quicken us, and enable
us to go forward : ' laying aside every
weight, and the sin which doth so easily
beset us, let us run with patience the race
that is set before us.' ''

104

THE LIFE OF

Leaving Cawnpore, IMr. Thomason oe-
gan what to him was a novel and strange
mode of life ; marching and living in
tents. The party proceeded by easy
stages twelve miles a day, rising by gun
fire, when it was quite dark in the morn
ing, they arrived at their ground a little
after sunrise. '* Conceive," as he says,
describing his journey, — " an immense
plain, on which are scattered thousands
of villages, a few principal towns without
variety, and a vast multitude of inhabit-
ants : when you have seen one village
or town, you have seen all ; they are with-
out any of those marks of opulence, civili-
zation, or elegance which delight the Eng-
lish traveller. Those persons who are
distinguished for their wealth are few,
and they shun the presence of Europeans :
their manners and their dress are similar
to those of their inferiors: the efiect of
English superiority is of the most gloomy
nature. '^

]Mr. Thomason was grieved to find that

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 105

the governor intended to continue his
land-journey without stopping on the
Lord's-day. As his chaplain, he felt it
to be his duty to remind the governor of
his obligation to keep that day holy.
When he found that this had no effect,
and that on Saturday the usual prepara-
tions were making to proceed on the next
day, he remonstrated against it. The
consequence was that he was ordered to
leave the camp ; but he was given to under-
stand that if he would make an apology,
the sentence would not be executed. Mr.
Thomason could not apologize for doing
what he believed to be his duty, and wrote
to the governor, expressing his surprise
at this order, but his readiness at the same
time to comply with it; adding that he
felt as strongly as ever the importance of
the subject, and thought it the duty of a
minister of religion to explain his views
when the honour of God and interests of
religion were concerned ; but that he
lamented, that any thing should have ap-

106 THE LIFE OF

peared in the expression of his sentiments
that was thought disrespectful. Upon
receiving this note, the governor not only
permitted him to remain, but for a time
observed the day of rest.

Amongst the native iroops who attended
the earl on his journey were a few pious
men who had been under the ministry
of i\Ir. Corrie, at Calcutta. Mr. Thoma-
son did not know them until they had
been many weeks on the route, when they
came to his tent to join in prayer and hear
the vScriptures. He said, *^ even in this
jungle, we could rejoice together in re-
membrance of the love of Christ. All
the places (he added) where troops are
usually stationed, are empty. There is
nothing to amuse a traveller who does not
hunt : however, I hope my time is not
wholly lost; my little Hindoostanee church
has lately received an accession by one
of the converts from Agra, a pious humble
Christian : we are now a little company,
and spend many a happy hour together

THOMAS T. THOMASOX. 107

over the Scriptures. With these heloved
fellow-travellers, I am often solaced amidst
the sickening frivolities of the camp.
Since we left Hindostan, Sunday has not
been observed as a day of rest ; yet the
governor halts to get ready for a tiger
hunt. The kingdoms of this v.orld will
have their own pursuits and enjoyments,
they are not those of the kingdom of
Christ. The experience I have had of
this will, I trust, be useful to me, and
certainly, intercourse with native schools,
and daily Hindoostanee preaching, have
contributed much to enlarge my heart
towards the perishing heathen. Corrie's
fatherly attention to his flock was truly
lovely. Nothing of an abiding nature
can be done without love, that love which
arises from Christian principles, and is
kept up by close walking with God.
I pra}^ for more of it. By love God
works with us, and by love we must work
with others. Enoch's walk was a walk
of love. Sometimes I try to examine, in

108 THE LIFE OF

a practical way, this one word, love, and
find it full of afiecting truths. We know
little about it. Humility, holiness, faith,
hope, gratitude, all these, working in their
degree, enlarge the contracted heart. In
proportion to the intenseness of them, is
the intenseness of our love. Where there
is nothing of them, all that looks like love
is selfish, depraved, earthly principle. I
could prove this, and do so to myself
every day. I see a vast quantity of rub-
bish, spurious love, animal warmth, san-
guine self-complacency, self-righteous ex-
ertion, usurping the place of love, wear-
ing its garb, talking its language. Is this
wonderful, when there is so much pride ?
The first step in the ladder is humility.
The Lord help us to gain it, and to go
step by step, till we have got to the region
of love."

The governor having determined to
stop some time at Agra, on his return
home, Mr. Thomason obtained permission
to leave the camp, and on the 6th of

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 109

March, 1815, arrived again at the Ganges,
and took boat for Calcutta, where he
arrived in May, after an absence of eleven
months. In looking back upon this jour-
ney, Mr. Thomason remarked : —

" To have once taken the tour of the
Bengal provinces, will be of great advan-
tage in future operations. But there is
nothing to tempt a second visit. To a
feeling heart, the prospect of desolation
is most distressing. The country affords
much to gratify a naturalist and an anti-
quary ; but the pursuits of such persons
require time and leisure. We only passed
through, and saw the immense plains of
Hindostan, in all their nakedness, the dire
effects of those contentions which, for
centuries, have depopulated the country,
and covered its face with ruins. The
ruins of Delhi are of surprising extent,
reaching sixteen miles or more ; a sicken-
ing sight ! 0 it makes us sad to go
through the awful scene of desolation.
Mosques, temples, houses, all in ruins ;
K

110 THE LIFE OF

piles of stones, broken pillars, domes,
crumbling walls, covered the place. The
imperial city presents nothing but the
palace to give an idea of its greatness,
and only appears grand from the magnifi-
cent wall with which it is surrounded,
which still retains its beauty — being buiit
of hard stone. Within is poverty and
departed grandeur — all is going to decay
The famous hall of audience remains,
built of marble, richly inlaid with stones
sufficiently beautiful to realize all our ex-
pectations. We saw in the gardens the
reigning prince, the poor representative
of Timur's house. He was taking an
airing, carried on a tonjoh (a chair
borne on shoulders), preceded by a train
of attendants bawling out his titles ; he
bowed to us, and appeared an intelligent
man. The courts of the palace — the at
tendants — the offices of the servants — all
gave an appearance of wretchedness one
could not behold without a sigh.

" We had a pleasant parting with his

THOMAS T. THOMASON. Ill

lordship ; he expressed his hope to me
that something would result from the in-
formation we had collected on the journey,
and that the hints which had heen fur-
nished would be gathered up and become
productive of some beneficial plans of in-
struction, of the need of which he fel
as much assured as ever. On the whole,
I felt as if my connexion with this party
had not been without its use. I have had
frequent opportunities of suggesting what
appeared advisable, and now part from
them with a promise of communicating
from time to time what may be interest-
ing in my department Having now seen
all the principal stations and principal
people in the parts, I return much better
qualified to judge of many things than I
could have been if I had continued in
Calcutta. But schools have not yet been
formed. The prospect indeed has becom
darker rather than otherwise. For want
of the true rallying point, philanthropic
benevolence sinks before the opposition

112 THE LIFE OF

and indifference which oppose efficient
plans of usefulness."

During his absence Dr. Middleton, the
new bishop of Calcutta, arrived, and his
hopes were raised that he could gain his
influence in promoting the moral welfare
of the people.

CHAPTER X.

One of the first acts of Mr. Thomason
after his return was, to use his influence for
the establishment of an asylum for the
female children of the English soldiers
who died in India. These children were
not only left in poverty, but exposed to
the worst example, and were almost cer-
tainly brought to ruin. Mr. Thomason
obtained subscriptions for the asylum, and
a large house was built, in which seventy
orphans were soon comfortably placed.

In 1816, the plan, which was so deai
to him, of finding means for the educa

THOMAS T. THOMASOy. 113

tion of the natives, was commenced by
the natives themselves establishins; a school
and college. The object was that which
he had so strongly recommended to the
governor, the instruction of the people in
the English, as well as in their own lan-
guage and sciences. This college they
maintain at their own expense, and the
professors are Hindoos.

Mr. Thomason was also active in the
formation of the School-book Society, the
design of which was to furnish proper
books for the instruction of the natives in
the English language. In 1817 he be-
came secretary of the Church Missionary
Society in Calcutta, which greatly increased
his labours. He established a monthly
missionary prayer-meeting at his church,
on the plan of the concerts for prayer
on the first Monday of every month,
which are now observed by Christians
in all parts of the world. In addition
to these duties, he translated the book
of Psalms into Persian, not knowing,
k2

114 THE LIFE OF

probably, that Henry Martyn had done
this at Shiraz ; he revised the Old Tes-
tament in Arabic, and superintended
the printing of the New Testament
in Arabic and Persian. " I am filled
with astonishment," he said, " at the
opening scenes of usefulness : send us
labourers — send us faithful, laborious la-
bourers. Being obliged to undertake so
many departments renders me sadly in-
efficient. Preaching, translating, writing
letters, attending committees, all is feebly
and unprofitably done."

In 1818, bishop Middleton engaged
with great zeal in promoting the efforts
to instruct the people. This animated
Mr. Thomason to still more diligence.

" To the joy of many," he writes,
*' our bishop has come forward in behalf
of the heathen. The public was moved —
a school committee formed — a noble fund
raised for school purposes ! What could
the heart desire more ? We are not strait-
ened for means or for patronage, we want

THOMAS T. THOMASOV. 116

only instruments. As a member of the
school committee, I have felt it my duty
to rise to the great occasion, and have laid
my shoulders to the work, and have for
some time past been busily employed in
learning the Bengalee language, organizing
schools, examining classes, looking out for
teachers. The bishop's chaplain is the
only one who takes an active part in our
committee. He is in fact the secretary ;
but as he always travels with the bishop,
he leaves me to act for him as secretary
to the diocesan committee ; and thus I
have for months together the concerns of
the society for promoting Christian know-
ledge upon my hands. Now that they
have come publicly forward in the cause
of the heathen, I rejoice, and feel it an
honour to serve them. By throwing in
all my little influence, and using all my
exertion for them, I am enabled to help
forward a mighty instrument of good ;
and truly it is a matter of rejoicing that
the great and gay amongst us have been

116 THE LIFE OF

forward to give their silver and gold at
the call of the bishop."

The next employment of jNIr. Thoma-
son was to revise the translation of the
Old Testament into Hindoostanee, which
Henry Martyn had left in an unfinished
state. About this time the bishop pro-
posed the establishment of a college at
Calcutta, for the education of missionaries.
This was carried into effect, and the insti-
tution is called Bishop's college. Its
principal objects are to prepare native and
other Christian youth to be preachers and
schoolmasters, to teach useful knowledge
to the Hindoos and Mohammedans, and
to translate the Bible and tracts. The
government now made a grant of nearly
fifteen hundred dollars yearly to the or-
phan asylum.

Bishop Middleton died in July, 1822,
and bishop Heber succeeded him in the
next year. On the arrival of the latter,
Mr. Thomason was appointed as a minis-
ter in the bishop's church, but continuing

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 117

to preach in the mission church once a
week.

In 1825 the health of Mrs. Thomason
had become so weak, that the only hope
of her recovery was in her leaving the
climate. Her husband felt compelled to
take her to England on this account, and
having seen a minister settled in his place
in whom he had great confidence, he pre-
pared for his departure. Before he left
Calcutta he received a long letter from
members of the congregation whom he
had faithfully served for fifteen years,
thanking him for his labours, and men-
tioning many sermons in particular, which
they remembered as having been instru-
mental in doing good. One of these,
which had been preached on new-year's
day, ten years before his departure, they
quoted in the letter, and it may be profit-
able for the readers of this book to have
part of the letter copied, not only as con-
taining solemn thoughts for their reflec-
tion, but as an example of the attention

il8 THE LIFE OF

that should be paid to sermons and all
other instruction. The letter said : —

" We shall in this place advert more
particularly to one of your affectionate
addresses to the old church congregation,
delivered on new-year's day, 181 G, as
being quite suitable to our present pur-
pose, and to the avowed object of this
address. The text was taken from the
4th chapter of Amos, and the 12th verse,
' Prepare to meet thy God.' You said,
' My dear brethren, we have often met
together in this house : the years roll
round, and life sinks apace ; our connexion
together as minister and people has sub-
sisted now more than seven years ; I feel
my own heart deeply impressed with the
importance of the relation which unites
us, and hope you will bear with me in
saying this, on an occasion when, by the
providence of God, we are assembled to
consider how we may best improve the
year which this day opens upon us. Can
we better improve it, than by carrying

THOMAS T. THOMASOX. 119

our thoughts forward to that great day
when we shall meet together at the bar
of judgment, when minister and people
shall meet their God ? The thought of
this meeting, which we are quite sure
must take place, ought to lead us all to in-
quire into the preparation we have made
for it. I say, we are quite sure of it, we
cannot get rid of the thought if we would.
Every day hastens forward that solemn
event. It will be a meeting without any
disguise on either side — a meeting in
which we shall be perfectly known to
God and to each other — a meeting in
which every soul will be deeply inte-
rested, and unless we are prepared for it,
it will be a meeting of unutterable anguish.
Two questions I would propose for present
consideration : First, with what feelings
shall we meet each other on that day ?
Secondly, with what feelings shall we
meet God?' Again, ^ Many a precious
hour of our lives has been spent in this
place ; many a precious passage has beea.

120 THE LIFE OF

brought before us out of the word ol
God : promises, warnings, expostulations,
threatenings, precepts, exhortations, have
been the subject of our meditations. Some
of your ministers, dear and honoured ser-
vants of God, have been removed by
death : others have laboured amongst you,
and are now absent at their respective
posts. Inroads have been made in the
congregation by death, and now we, who
are spared to consider the lapse of years,
should consider ourselves called upon to
serious self-examination, and faithful deal-
ing with ourselves.

"'Are there not many who must testify,
if they would speak the truth, that they
have received no profit ; as ignorant of
divine things, as much strangers to the
power, as much in bondage to sin and the
world as they were ? Surely, your meet-
ing with your ministers must be a painful
one. They will be a swift witness against
you in that day, if you die in your pre-
sent condition. Are there not others who

THOMAS T . THOMASON. 121

have declined from the ways of God, who
neither have the comfort they once en-
joyed, nor do they manifest the same
fruitfulnesG ? I am sure there is a marked
difference in their attendance at the house
of God. They used to attend both on
Sundays and week days. Now they only
come on Sundays, and very often but
once on that blessed day.' "

Among the services which his congre-
gation remembered with gratitude, they
mentioned the following : — " On your
first arrival amongst us, you commenced
a round of pastoral visits to the families
of many of the old church congregation.
These parochial visits led to the adoption
of social worship amongst families wher^
such a practice had not been observed
before, whilst they added fresh fervour
and earnestness amongst those with whom
family worship had been already esta-
blished. And we have heard that your
first visit of this kind to one of your old
L

122 THE LIFE OF

• church congregation and his family, — on
an occasion when you selected, for the
meditation of the evening, the fourth
chapter of St John's gospel, wherein is
recorded the story of the woman of
Samaria coming to Jacob's well, to draw
water, and the conference she had with
our Saviour, — has been remembered with
thankfulness in that family to this day.

"We cannot omit noticing another
branch of your early labours on your
first arrival in Calcutta. We allude to
your catechetical lectures to the younger
part of your flock, on a Saturday even-
ing. Numbers of your juvenile disciples
(most of whom have now grown to years
of discretion) have profited by your in-
structions to them, and through Divine
grace the good seed sown has not been
unproductive, but brought forth fruit unto
repentance and to a godly life ; some a
hundred fold, some sixty, and some thirty.
".You have been a foster-father to them,

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 123

and they duly appreciate your tender
solicitude towards their spiritual welfare
and eternal interests."

In the conclusion of the letter his peo-
ple said : — " And now, belgved and dear
sir, we bid you an affectionate farewell
a farewell which is poignantly felt in the
very inmost recesses of our hearts. In
the year 1808 you came to us, and now
in this year 1826, you are about to depart
from us ! May he who ' manages the
seas' conduct the Thomas Grenville with
safety to her destined haven, and may
yourself and your dear wife, who has
verily been a Dorcas amongst us, full of
good works and alms-deeds which she
has done, be conveyed speedily into the
bosom of your revered mother, and all
near and dear to you in your native land.
Should you again come back to us (which
God grant that you may) how many will
you not miss ! Many who have walked
with you in the house of God, and taken
sweet counsel together, will have gone

124 THE LIFE OF

before us to the heavenly Jerusalem,
where ministers and people will one day
all surround the throne of Him that sit-
teth upon the throne and of the Lamb
for ever. Should it be otherwise, we en-
treat your prayers for us, that ' our con-
versation be as it beeometh the gospel of
Christ, that whether you come and see us,
or else be absent, you may hear of our
affairs, that we stand fast in one spirit,
with one mind, striving together in the
faith of the gospel.' "

The congregation also lost a valuable
friend in parting with Mrs. Thomason.
She was kind and affectionate to all, and
spent much time in works of benevolence.
She took great interest in the orphan asy-
lum, and had the principal charge of the
management of the house, and it was re-
marked that no institution existed any-
where in which the arrangements were
more excellent for the comfort and wel-
fare, both temporal and spiritual, of the
nmates.

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 125

CHAPTER XL

Mr. Thomason left Calcutta with his
wife in February, 1826, but they had not
been many weeks at sea before her illness
increased so much, that it was evident she
could not reach her home. She died in
the vessel, and was buried in the sea.

Three days before her death she ex
pressed to her husband a hope that God
vv^ould spare her, that she might continue
to be a comfort to her husband, and to
bring up her children : but when Mr.
Thomason said, " But what if it should
please him to dispose otherwise?" she
answered, "Then his will be done !" Be-
fore she was confined to bed she was
fond of reading hymns aloud. Reading
the hymn beginning —

O God, our help in ages past.

Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,

And our eternal home,
l2

126 THE LIFE OF

she was very much affected ; but when she
came to this verse, —

In every scene of life and death

Thy promise is our trust,
And this shall be our children's song,

When we are cold in dust,

she was overcome. She thought of the
children she was going to leave behind
her. Who can describe the love of a
mother ? Who of the readers of this
book feel that they have loved and
honoured their mothers as they ought ?
Who are following their pious advice,
and seeking the blessing of God ?* She
became so low that it was difficult to con-
verse. All that her husband could do
w^as to read to her short portions of Scrip-
ture, and pray with her. When asked if
the Saviour comforted her, she answered,
" He does." Her countenance showed

• If any reader wishes to see the tenderness of a
mother illustrated, and the dreadful nature and conse-
quences of disobedience and want of affection shown,
let him read " The Only Son," pubUshed by the Am.
S. S. Union.

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 127

that she spent much time in earnest
prayer. " On Saturday evening/* said
Mr. Thomason, writing to his son in
India, " her precious remains were com-
mitted to the deep. The evening was
still, and all was solemn ; the service was
read by dear S , whose brotherly ten-
derness and sympathy I cannot adequately
describe. Being myself overwhelmed by
the bereavement, I was unable to perform
that last service ; but I saw from a dis-
tance the coffin dropped into the sea, and
heard the words, ' We commit her body
to the deep, to be turned into corruption,
looking for the resurrection of the body
(when the sea shall give up her dead), and
the life of the world to come, through our
Lord Jesus Christ, who at his coming shall
change our vile body, that it may be like
unto his glorious body, according to the
mighty working, whereby he is able to
subdue all things to himself.' 0, my be-
loved boy, I cannot tell you the consola
tion afforded by that hope. I earnestly

128 THE LIFE OF

trust it will be as a healing balm to yom
own heart"

On his arrival in England, Mr. Thoma-
son found his mother still living, and she
had the happiness of seeing her son, from
whom she had been separated eighteen
years. After visiting his friends, Mr.
Thomason, finding that he might be use-
fully employed in Cheltenham, took charge
of a church there. All his children were
once more collected around him ; his son
having also returned from India. Whilst
at Cheltenham, he was active in his efibrts
to promote the interests of the people of
India. He held a monthly meeting in
aid of the missionary society, and was
engaged in other ways in endeavouring
to spread the gospel through the whole
world

But he found that he could not do as
much good in this way as by living among
the heathen themselves, and felt it to be
his duty to return to Calcutta. It was,
indeed, a severe trial to leave his motli

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 129

and friends once more, and probably never
to see them again, and to take his children
from the comforts and advantages of home ;
but he knew he must not let such feelings
prevent him from doing his duty, and ac-
cordingly offered himself, in 1828, to be
sent to his former station. As he ob-
served, " I clearly see the path of duty.
If God be our God, he can and will make
up every loss. I desire to make him my
dwelling-place, and to expect all happi-
ness and strength from him." He paid
a visit to Cambridge, the scene of so many
interesting events in his life, and a person
who was in the university at the time has
given the following account of it.

" During Mr. Thomason's last visit to
Cambridge, about twenty under-graduates
were invited to join a farewell party to
him at the Rev. H. Parish's rooms. After
breakfast he spent an hour in giving us a
view of the preparatory studies, the duties,
privations, and joys of a chaplain and of a
missionary in India. Most of us, 1 b^-

130 THE LIFE OF

lieve, must date any distinct ideas we may
have on the subject from that conversa-
tion. His graphic views of the necessi
ties of India — his statements from expe-
rience of the blessedness of the work,
kindled a missionary flame in many ;
whilst his solemn warnings against secu-
larity of motive, and unadvised hasti-
ness in deciding, were well fitted to damp
any thing of mere animal fervour, or tem-
porary excitement.

"When about to part, the Rev. W

B took his hand and said, ' Christian

brother, we bid you God speed,' and gave
him a parting blessing. Mr. T. shook
each of us by the hand, and said, * I know
not your faces, but I shall be glad to see
you in India ; or, if not in India, I shall
hope to meet and recognise all of you in
that great day.'

" Few of us will forget his countenance
at the close of our meeting. Two of the
party have since gone to India as chap-
lains; but they did not see Mr.Thomason "

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 131

He left England in the summer of
1828, two years after his arrival there,
taking with him a wife whom he married
there. After a passage of about four
months, he reached Calcutta.

But soon after his arrival, he began to
suffer from the dropsy. He appeared to
be cured of this disease, but was reduced
so low by the remedies that it was neces-
sary for him to take a voyage to recover
his strength. He accordingly sailed for
Mauritius, in the isle of France. The
use of sickness and suffering to a Chris-
tian may be seen by reading Mr. Thoma-
son's expressions at this time. They are
in a letter to his mother written from the
ship in which he was sailing from Calcutta.

" Through these painful months I have
been much exercised in mind ; and when
in the near prospect of eternity, could at
no time rise to any great joy. My soul,
through the mercy of God, could cast it-
self upon the Saviour, and there repose.
But oh ! how in the retrospect of my

132 THE LIFE OF

past life, did I see cause to weep ; and in
what an affecting manner were the sins
of my youth and more advanced age set
before me ! How was I shocked at the
foolish chattering, and the defiled super-
ficial statements with which the deep
things of God had been handled ! Very
great and glorious they then appeared to
me, and I pray that the impression may
be deep and permament. I seemed to
have heard of God only with the hearing
of the ear, and now that mine eye saw
him more nearly, I abhorred myself.
During this whole season of suffering,
great was the mercy of God to me. The
attendance of my wife and children was
most touching ; and the keen solicitude
expressed by the members of the congre-
gation was soothing to the heart. Though
I felt myself to be utterly unworthy of
their love, yet I could not but consider it
as an evidence that my labour had not
been altogether vain. I could appeal to
the heart-searching God as to the sincerity

THOMAS T. THOMASON. 133

of my heart, in desiring rather to be taken
away at once, than to go on in the same
superficial, unprofitable way I had hitherto
done. If it please him to restore me to
work, I pray that the fruit of this visi-
tation may appear. Little did I think
when I last wrote from this neighbour
hood, that I should so soon be compelled
to retrace my steps. It seemed on reach-
ing the sand-heads, and hearing of the
state of things, that I had come back to
Calcutta in the very moment of time, that
nothing could be more seasonable, nothing
more indicative of providential guidance ;
that I was, in short, just the person that
was wanted to fill up the gap. Thou
blind fool, said God, go back again, and
know that my work wants you not. So
I interpret the providence by which I am
sent back from the place to which my
heart had clung. God will do his work
with hallowed instruments. I pray that
he may sanctify and make me meet for
his work, and feel that he is righteous in
M

134 THE LIFE OF

all his ways, and holy in all his works.
In the retirement of this cabin, I trust the
Lord will deepen his work in my heart."
The voyage lasted nine weeks, and ap-
peared to be of service. From the pen
of Mrs. Thomason we have this narrative
uf his employment and state of mind
during that time : — " He read twice over
the Harmony of the Gospels, which, as
he intently perused, he frequently said,
* I have been feasting on the bread of
life.' He appeared sometimes to be ab-
sent from all earthly scenes ; so elevated
was his soul with meditation on the bound-
less love of God in Christ, which was
heightened by a deep sense of his own
vileness : indeed, this characteristic much
increased as he ripened for glory : he
lamented his great defect in every rela-
tive duty, in his ministerial office espe-
cially ; and in deep humility of heart
used to break out in the publican's prayer,
and frequently said, ^ I cast myself on the
boundless mercy of God. I throw my

TPIOMAS T. THOMASON. 135

self at my Saviour's feet; if I perish, I
perish there,'

" He was very earnest in his petitions
at the throne of grace for the spiritual
welfare of India, for the coming of Christ's
kingdom, and the fulfilment of those pro-
phecies relating to it. He left an affec-
tionate farewell to those most dear to him,
in the following words, — ^ To my dearest
mother, give my most affectionate love,
and may her last days be her best days.
To my very dear Mr. Simeon say, I feel
unworthy of the great love he has at all
times honoured me with. 0 may his bow
abide in strength, and may he be, if possi-
ble, still more useful in his age.' "

They landed at Mauritius on the 7th
of June, 1829, on which day he entered
the fifty-sixth year of his life. From
that time he became worse. "On Saturday
morning, the 20th," says his wife, "he
requested me to read the appointed psalms
for the morning (as was my frequent
custom), the first of which being the

136 THE LIFE or

102d, he said, * How descriptive of my
case.' On Sunday he had a very suffer-
ing day, but his mind was composed, he
was quite sensible his end was approach-
ing, and his frequent prayer was for pa-
tience : yet indeed he was an example of
patient suffering : towards the evening
I perceived evident signs of approaching
dissolution, and therefore requested a
Christian friend to be with me at the
closing scene ; he can bear witness with
myself, to the firm faith and strong hope
which disarmed death of its sting, and
shed a holy quiet and peace around.

" Many sweet expressions we heard
from his dying lips, in the midst of severe
bodily agony, such as the following :
* This is a dark valley, but there 's light
at the end.' ' Thanks be unto God for
his unspeakable gift' ' Lord Jesus, re-
ceive my spirit' ' Lord give me patience,
may patience have its perfect work.'
'When thou hadst overcome the sharp-
ness of death, thou didst open the king-

THOxMAS T. THOMASON. 137

dom of heaven to all believers.' About
three o'clock in the morning, he inquired
-what time it was, and when told, he re-
plied, ^ I thought I should have been far
away before this.' " The last words that
he uttered were in reply to his wife, who,
observing that his last moment was near,
said, " The Lord is coming quickly.'^
when he said, " I hope so." He died on
the 21st of June.

And now that my young reader has
finished the book, I would ask, has it
done you any good ? Do you love the
character of Mr. Thomason ? Do you
love him because he was a Christian ?
If so, why do you not love Christ, who
was the author of all that was good or
lovely in him, and therefore ought to be
loved most ?

Do you think that if you were very
ill, you would be glad to be told that you

138 LIFE OF THOMASON.

were about to die ? Would you be will
ing to say, " I hope so V^ Do you think
you would go to Christ if you did die ?

These are solemn questions, and God
knows how you do, or ought to, answer
them in truth. Mr. Thomason began to
serve God in his childhood. Before he
was nine years old he loved prayer better
than amusement, and desired that others
should be as happy as himself. With
these feelings he grew up, and the Lord
enabled him to be useful to many souls,
and although he is now dead, he may be
useful to your souls by this life that you
have read. Pray to God that it may be
so ! May he grant your prayer, for
Jesus' sake.

THS £y>

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