Star.
London, England, 1815-10-11 00:00:00

Ck it LI FlVXlTS.—Octortz 29.

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. •

CEYLON.

CONVERSION TO CHRISTIANITY OP AN EMINENT
PRIEST OF BUIIHU.
It is but seldom that we have the satisfaction of
recording a change of sentiment among the Priests
of Heathenism ; still more seldom can we trace the
progress of that cow/lesion, and the reasonings on
which the convert adopts his new faith. We have
no authentic history of a similar progress in the minds
of any heathen—intelligent heathen, especially, in
the Apostolic age ; and therefore we can only ima-
gine on what convictions they relinquished the wor-
ship of Jupiter and Juno, of Apollo and Minerva, of
Neptune and Ceres. They must have had some train
nt theught, some inducing cause, impelling them to
ahenden the rites of their infancy. the customs of
their ancestors, the institutions of their country.—
Tiley must, further, have had some powerlul motive
for einleracing foreign and a despised profession.—
rn..aps, it ts scarcely possible to conceive a closer
cesesssislAnce to what took piece. in those early days,
than the instance before us, which is a fact, beyond
question or doubt. It has much the air of whit
might have passed in Greece or Italy, in the first
century of the Christian religion. M. Chateanbriand
(now Viscount) formerly introduced a conversion,
the work of his imagination, into a romance : with
whatever attention to produce a beautiful effect Mat
WaS conducted, the present.is much more striking.—
It excels, as a pot trait from life excels inresemblance
lof nature, the most finished production of fancy.
CEYLON GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, .0! DEC. 24, 1814.
On Christmas Day a very remarkable Baptism
was celebrated in the middle of Divine Service, before
a full congregation, at the Church in the Fort. A
Budhist Priest, of great eminence for character, ta-
lents, and literary attainments, after a mature delibee
ration and a careful perusal of the Gospel in the Cin-
galese Language. had determined to throw aside his
yellow robes, and embrace the Christian Religion.
It was in vain that his resolution was assailed by
his brother priests, and by the solicitations of his own
family. Their importunities only served to agitate
his feelings, but could not shake his determined coa-
victim, founded upon examination and reflection.—
He gave np rank, affluence, connections, and family,
to follow the dictates of his conscience. He was
baptised 'immediately after the Second Lesson, by'
the name tif " Plum Patiiitta Sekarras." Mr. Ar-
mour and Mr. Clough were his godfathers. From
the nattual influence of his character and abilities,
such an example promises to be of signal use in the
propagation of Christianity. The causes which led
to his adoption of the Christian Religion, and the
probable consequences of his conversion, sere noticed
with much effect by Mr. Twisteton, in his semen
on the occasion ; and they furnished a most appro-
priate conclusion to a discourse delivered on the An-
niversary of the Nativity of Hut who was destined
to be a light to lighten the Gentila.
Mr. C; ugh, x gentleman sent out as a missionary
by the Church Mieiionary Society, sometimes attend-
ed the eiolatroes worship of the natives, and made
clue iequiries -.into its nature. He particularly adi
dressed himself to this Priest, perceiving him to be
an act:: man, and thoroughly versed in the religion
of his country. By degrees they reposed mutual
confidence in each other. The following is the sob.
stance of some of their conferences :
Yuu say that the Goo of whom you speak is
infinitely greet in all his attributes; that lie created
the world and all its inhabitants, and governs the
world by the same power; and that he is present as
Much in one place as another, and views every action
of man ; and that he demands proper worship from
all his creatures, and such as Chi istians pay him ;
that such is his holiness that he hates sin, and such
his justice that lie will punish sin, and particularly
the failure of proper worship—how can a Gou of
justice punish an Idolater, it that Idolater worship
according to the light afforded him, and not accord-
ing to the felt of Christianity, of which Idolaters
ignorant ? and, further (he added), this is apple.
cable to the Cingalese in general—why then has not
GOD instructed us better ?"
1 answera, that, although GOD is a being of infi-
nite justice, he is also a GOD of mercy, and that he
could do nothing contrary to goodness and holiness ;
and hence. when it is said Re will judge every man
according to Isis work:, yet he will de it according to
the light which each man possessed. 1 added, that
his questions had not involved the smallest ditficulty;
bcc ruse it could not be supposed that Goo had per
mitt:d the Cingalese and other idolatrous nations to
remain in a state of mental darkness, ler the purpose
of judging them with a less rigortus jodgment ; but
their ignoiance might be considered as permitted by
Co;) to stick to them, a just retaliation for their fore-
fathers' abuse of the light which ere now enjoy ; and
the difference In the Day of Judgment between a
Christian and a Cingalese idolater will aepeer ac.
cording to their p.:rtictilar circumstances : the one
will be judged by the Gospel, the other by the light
with which he had been favoured.
Perceiving that he continued to be very inquisitive
aboht Christian y, I furnished Fir with a copy of
the lour Gospels in Cingalese, with which he was
much pleased, saying, that was what he had long
wished to see : 's and be assured I will read it with
great attention ; but (he said) may I request en ad-
ditional Favour of yin ? which is, to allow me to
trouble yen to explain any parts which I may not
understand." To this 1 most readily assented. I
presented to him the Gospels at his own Heathen
•I'emple, when some of his pupils for the Budhist
Priesthood were present, who were not a little sur-
prised at the joy which he expressed, and the care
which he manifested in wrapping up the book, as
being more valuable than gold.
After this, he soon put me to the pleasing task of
explaining, to the best of my ability, those things
Winch were rather mysterious to him, such as the
itutstioit of the nations mentioned in the New Testa-
nwnt, patticuletly the Jews and Romans; their rise,
progress, state, Sec. I also stated the chronology 4
the Patriarchs, particularly those from whom hits
CHRIST deSCCiid::d, and various other particulars.—
After he had read the Gospel several times, he began
to lament that he had not the Old Testament, sup.
posing that it would give him a clear explanation of
the New.--;--sant
II Since I hosamifacquaitted with you, your con.
versation'and your answers to my different questions
have made iedeep impression 'on my mind ; and,
daring the last three weeks, 1 have been is a state of
-• • • •

great distress of mind. I have frequently returned
home, after my interviews with you, unable to sleep
for many nights."
I asked him the cause of this trouble ? He replied,
that it arose from an apprehension, that he and his
countrymen who followed the religion of Bodhis had•
been mistaken in their religious prtaciples, which was
to him a consideration of the greatest importance :
he added, that the more he thought on the subject,
the snore the appreliensi;ins increased, inasmuch as
the evidences or the Christian Religion were making
trouger and stronger impressions upon him.
I then asked him whether he thought that the Con
of the Christian was he who ought to be worshipped
in prercf.ence to idols ? He rt tthcd, that he had been
considering the subject candidly end impartially.
as thotr.th lie wile a nietnier nt:tik.r cnoimtmion,
and in all its bea:ings; and th tt Le 11-...1 offered up
prayers for direction in a ni otter s,l important, a,,d
that if he and his countrymen were in error he prayed
that he might receive conviction in the dearest man-
ner. and that a way mir,lit be opened by which he
might leave his present profession and embrace Chris-
tianity, not only for hit. own good, but for that of
others to whom he would preach it. lie added,
that the more he prayed, the more did his desire to
quit the religion of Bedhu increase. He then asked
me to assist him in managing this, for which his gra-
titude would be extreme ; and that he should think
that the great GOD had sent me from England to
'Ceylon on purpose to instruct hint, and shew him the
right way of worshipping Goo; and, in return, he,
should think it incumbent on him, to hi.; latest hour,
to make known to his countrymen the blessings ot
the Gospel, which had been thus offered to him
through my means.
Perceiving that he war prepared to manifest his con-
version, I asked him what he conceived the most
speedy and of ectasl mode et doing it ? He replied,
41 By laying aside my priestly garments, and joining
myself to the society of Christians;" adding," I am
in my present situation as comfortable us I can
wish, with regard to the things of this world ; but,
as boon as I throw off the garment I. shall be de-
prived of all means of siippat t, and this gives me un-
easiness ; and, in case I embrace Crab:lanky, I shall
be brought into distiess. becalise you know, for some
time, I should be of no use to any religion ;" wean-
ing ne would nct be able to preach : " yet, if I had
only a suilicient knowledge of the Christian religion
to efi.tbie me to preach it, i belleYe• the great and
good Gun would not suffer me for one stemma to
want ; and t ne of the greatest acts ot mercy you can
do, will be to assist me a little in this particular."
About this tune there was a meeting convened of
several lludiiist pricstb. fur some particular occasion,
near G..iie, and the nicAing was to continue for
some days. I was apprehensive that he might be
snaken, or not sufficiently prepared to stand the at-
tacks el such a number of his former acquaintance.
I however paid hint a v.sit at this meeting, when
they were all preser.t, and were not a little surprised
to see me advance ; but they were more surprised
when they perceived thy convert advance and join
me. We then ream], and I began a very close con-
versation about tire state of his mind, and found him
unshaken. I asked him whetin r he did nut tea re-
luctance at leaving his religion ? He answered, that
the reluctance was easily overcome, because he was
about to receive a better ; and he added, that he tclt
no difficulty in casting his lot with mine, and should
be very gkd to have the same place with use in the
next world ; and :hat he should oave little trouble in
Ins mind, it lie thougiit he should be in the same
situation with me at the Day ot Judgment.
At this time a singuler circumsusuce occurred,
which seemed to give %%eight to all his past conduct.
The aferementicned assembly of Priests availed then-
selves of opportunities of receiving personal and pub-
lic improvement, both by night and day, through
the means ot my taito:111 convert ; and he, being use
senior Priest, was louked up to for instruction. One
evening, wia:n they were assembled, aid were expect-
ing to hear bias preaCh ou the religion of Budhu, he
purled out the Cingidese New Testament, anchbegan to
read the Ist chapter of St. Mattnew, and proceeded to
read other chapters, making his observations, till
morning, by which time he had finished tile whole
Gospe). He was heard with surprise and attention;
they Irequently interrupted him, while he proceeded,
with questions, which he answered to the best of his
ability• lie came to me afterwards, and related this
circumstance; and, after a lung conversatifo, ex-
pressed himself in the lollowing manner—" I am like
a hungry man tied to a tree, with a table covered
waif ricis provisions near, b it out of ready; and tars
will be my state till the day of my liberty comes."
We then talked about his beeig baptised, and he
Threshed kwish to comply with that ordinance 'as
early as possible, which he considers to be the grand
tharacttlistic mark of those who are not worshippers
or ido:s. He was one of tee most celebrated in the
island, known both in the Candian and British dorsi-
niens—he resided for some time with the King of
Candia, and is every where extolled for his extensive
knowledge, both of the religion and• literature tithe
island, us well as the Oriental languages.
The matter was blazed abroad through the district,
dloehsbsekyiaibidildiewil:e.lretiioendststeaesll intelligence
thence Hth:atgehtheiiimrdeeriaatCosseitoppmfrewbevilaieldil.:
fourteena nVitip so
oadsici ahi en:
alarmed came to
tiitrepel
,baannddosenntth
bracing Chi istianity ; stating, that if a Priest 6i his
tank and respectability in the religion of Budhu for-
book them, it would not only disgrace his own•tha-
racier but injure the cause. He continued =•
the to; uarntedeireleinft
atitieimr splitheayd
wsoerreapinidclrye,astletdattobetiffotrye.
move-
seven, using every possible method to prevail upon
fib‘lelllret to
icsofnatnini
iul
ye as he was.
e
connections,
Bsi
someile s twhe Pr
eepiiness
some
scolding, and others threatening to put au end to
to
rim viexistietnhcela.rB e Many
presents,head mobeseurovhilthige, district came
li lfyou
sake the Priesthood, it will ruin our religion in this
mcoatiAdneftireiyiri.s"liethrough them all and
escape
alead
a Howeverat r
rthev heed broke
hazardn Colombo,
oo
uhmisbolif,e.he had sting
sharp conflicts, both from within and without. He
received several letters of a very severe kind ;
I aultutiort reiandythWis wondercase
ewe might ho rem).
lotion. he maintained his re.
l
say of a truth—" Notwas
unto us, 0 LOAD, but unto thy name be the praise !"
A day or two before hie baptism. I called upon him,
nand
found hint uncommonly cheerful and happy.—
ss dreamt," said be, "last • I nig lip that nty.rt.bes acre

cAvered with all kinds of filthy reptiles. I was so di,.
gnsted at the sight, that I thought I went to a rive
and cast them in, never to touch them again.
I woke this morning I found myso.l naked, ani
my robes folded up and thrown on the far sid^ of 11,
room. Nov, thought I, C3,(4) has seat this dream t%
shed me the bad state I am in, and to confirm me
is all try former resolutions, and 1 am noir sorry that
lam (breed to put them on a;,,ain." Her ;hardly tet.,
let us rest after this, until something could be Fri.
vided to dress him in.

Aitet his baptism, his Excellency the ive-rmr
ssnt him two suits of new clothes. tie i„0 have
salary (roils Government as a translator; and is nr;;
about to trar.si Ate the Bible into two ,
this island, Cirg tlese and Paanah or M trr'
which is spolscn ill flit: interior. lie is is
Scriptures under the care of the Psev. Mr.
who now rcsides in rumba, tail cp:aliEed pleb.