The Wheeling Repository

SERAMPORE MISSION.

More than a year since, an address was made to the public, through the medium of the Newspapers recommending to the patronage of the pious and the liberal throughout the United States, the efforts that were making by a number of Clergymen and Missionaries at Serampore in the East Indies, to translate the Holy Scriptures into several of the languages of that country.

This recommendation attracted considerable attention, and very handsome contributions were raised in a number of places, to aid in the expensive undertaking of those who were employed in translating the Bible.

The contributions that were made, immediately (some we understand are still making) were forwarded to Serampore without delay, and have been applied to the object to which they were destined. The worthy men who have thus been unexpectedly assisted, have transmitted to this country a letter of thanks, addressed to those who have contributed to the success of their arduous and benevolent enterprise; it has just appeared in the Assembly's Missionary Magazine, but it is believed that it ought to be made as public as the solicitation for pecuniary aid which produced it.

To the Christian Congregations in the United States, who have contributed their aid towards the Translation of the Sacred Scriptures into the Languages of the East.

Dearly Beloved Brethren,

Among those principles implanted in the heart by the Holy Spirit, none is more amiable, more fully demonstrative of our being made partakers of the Divine nature, or productive of more happy effects, than that of Christian Love. This removes all distance of place, overlooks all peculiarities of name and denomination, and unites in the firmest bonds all those who serve the same Lord, causing them to bear each others burdens, and to participate with delight in those labours of each other, which have for their object the glory of the Redeemer, and the welfare of mankind.

These ideas have seldom been more fully impressed on our minds, than when we heard of that instance of Christian liberality, and attachment to the cause of the Redeemer, which you have exhibited in aid of the Translation of the Sacred Scriptures into the Languages of the East. Employed in a part of the globe so remote from you, and personally unknown to most of you, judge what were our feelings when we heard that you had, without the least solicitation on our part, interested yourselves in so effectual a manner in that arduous, yet delightful work, in which the Lord has bidden us engage, for the sake of his people yet to be gathered from among the heathen.

For this display of Christian philanthropy, we intreat you to accept our warmest thanks, not merely on our own behalf but of those heathen, who, though unconscious of your compassion towards them, shall nevertheless bless you to all eternity, for having thus contributed to unfold to them the pages of everlasting truth.

It will give you pleasure to hear, that the Lord has so smiled upon this work, as to enable us to put to press versions of the Sacred Scriptures in five of the Eastern languages--the Sungskrit, the Hindoostanee, the Bengalee, the Mahratta, and the Orissa; and to go forward in preparing versions in five more of these languages--the Chinese, the Persian, the Telinga, the Gugurattee, and the language of the Seiks.

In this laborious and extensive work, we derive very great encouragement from the countenance and support of our dear Christian Brethren in America, as well as in Europe; and we beg leave to assure you, that every degree of support afforded shall be applied to the furtherance of the work, in the most faithful and economical manner.

We remain, dearly beloved brethren.

Most affectionately yours,

In our common Lord,

W. Carey,
J. Marshman,
W. Ward,
R. Mardon,
J. Biss,
F. Chater,
Joshua Rowe,
Wm. Robinson.

Felix Carey,

Mission-house, Serampore,

October 14th, 1806.