India Christiana. A discourse, delivered unto the Commissioners, for the Propagation of the Gospel…

I can't but Entertain you on this occasion with another Charitable work, but of a very Singular Nature, and Extending it self as far as the Coast of Coromandel in the East-Indies. In the Year •705. Two Young Candidates of Divinity, Bartholomew Ziegenbalgh, and Henry Plutscho, Natives of Germany, were sent by Frederick IV. the present King of Denmark, to the East-Indies, to attempt the Conversion of the Malabar-Heathens there. They arrived safely at Tranquebar, in the Month of June, 1706. and immediately applied themselves to Learn the Portuguese and Malabar Tongues. The Latter of these Languages, tho' exceeding Hard and Intricate, was, within Eight Months time, so far Mastered by Mr. Ziegenbalgh, that he began to Preach to the Malabar Heathen in it, and by this Means, to Explain unto them the Method of Salvation. In Effect, GOD left not their Endeavours without a Blessing: For soon after, some of these Heathens being wrought upon by the Word of Salvation, did shake off their Pagan Idolatry, and readily came over to Christianity. And this hopeful Beginning proved a New Encouragement unto these ⟨p. 58⟩Labourers, to go on with the work so happily set on foot, tho' not without Toil and Difficulty. However, after a Little while, they found so many Lets and Impediments in their way, raised by Heathens & Christians, as seemed to break the very first Efforts tending to the Conversion of the Heathen, to the Church of CHRIST. The Pagans were generally possessed with an utter Aversion to the Christian Religion; and this for no other Reason, but because they saw so much Impiety and Profaneness abounding among those that Call themselves by This Name. This was attended with many Consequences. For no sooner did an Heathen Embrace the Christian Faith, but he was for ever banished from all his former Goods and Possessions, and left to the wide World, to shift for himself. However, there were some other Impediments thrown in their way, far more Obstructive to the Propagation of the Gospel, than all what the Heathens could do to Oppose it. Those Impediments were started on the part of the Christians themselves, whose Duty it had been to aid and support so laudable an Undertaking. ⟨p. 59⟩But in the midst of these Various obstacles, raised Originally by the Common Enemy of Souls, GOD was pleased to Excite many persons in Germany, to favour the Labours of the Missionaries;