thing in that day from what it is now to embark as a missionary to distant India with a view of never returning, but of living and dying among the heathen. Some looked upon it as being buried alive-a sort of perpetual suttee life. They could not comprehend it; and perhaps it was a mistake which the Board made in impressing somewhat strongly the idea of no return. Yet it worked favorably in one respect; there was very little likelihood, with this living sacrifice before them, that any but the true disciples of a self-denying Saviour would offer themselves to the service. Besides, men could not but feel, as they contemplated the sacrifice, that there was a moral heroism in the consecration. They who saw Dr. Scudder on that day, so jubilant, with a face radiant as if some sudden joy had taken possession of him, were obliged to acknowledge the triumphant power of a Christian's faith.

JAMES BRAINERD TAYLOR.

One young man who beheld that scene never forgot it. It sunk deep into his soul. "What is it," said he, "that lifts this missionary into the precincts of heaven? What makes him so joyful when leaving country, home, relations, and the refinements of social life, to live on burning plains, and amid the disgusting depravity of pagans? Surely he is possessed with the spirit and temper of his Master." This young man was James Brainerd Taylor. From that moment he devoted his all to Christ, and thenceforth went "from strength to strength,” until -alas! how soon--he left us for glory.

"I this morning," writes he, in his spiritual diary, "witnessed a scene highly interesting to the heart of a Christian. I saw a missionary and his wife take their

departure from this port for India, to declare among the heathen the unsearchable riches of Christ. It may be said of them that they have left all and followed their Saviour. They counted not the blessings of home and friends, or even their own lives, dear unto themselves, that they might win Christ and win others to him.

"I had the pleasure of being introduced to Dr. and Mrs. Scudder. He appeared cheerful. Mrs. Scudder was bathed in tears, but yet rejoicing. They were surrounded by many acquaintances and friends; and we can with difficulty imagine their feelings when, just about to leave home, and country, and all the blessings of Christian society, they heard one and another say, 'My friend, my sister, farewell forever! I shall never forget Dr. Scudder's looks or his words. His eye kindled, and his cheek glowed with the ardor of Christian benevolence. As the vessel moved off, waving his hand, with a benignant smile on his countenance, he said, 'Only give me your prayers, and that is all I ask.""

This sight decided James Brainerd Taylor to leave his mercantile business, and prepare to follow the noble example set before him.

"On seeing Dr. Scudder take his last leave of his friends and the people on shore with a true missionary spirit, I felt a tenderness toward the poor heathen to whom he was going which caused my eyes to overflow. I thought that I would be willing to change my situation for his. On returning home I could not attend to business. I retired for prayer, and found the exercise sweet. My mind was impressed with the necessity for more ministers of the Gospel, and many reasons presented themselves why I should devote my life to the good of my fellow-men in that situation."

CHAPTER III.

Sails from Boston.-Revival on board the Indus.-Arrival at Calcutta.First Death.-Death of second Child.

THE DEPARTURE.

THE missionary band designated for Ceylon consisted of Messrs. Winslow, Spaulding, Woodward, and Scudder, with their wives. They embarked June 8th, 1819, in the brig Indus, Captain Wills, bound to Calcutta. Every thing was favorable. The season was beautiful, and the voyage promised to be auspicious. It was especially a kind Providence that gave them a captain whose heart beat in strong sympathy with their own. He was a true Christian. He not only provided every thing within his power for their temporal comfort, but put the whole ship at their disposal as a floating Bethel. They held religious meetings both in the cabin and in the forecastle,

"Our accommodations," writes one of the missionary band," are as good as we could expect, and our spiritual privileges great. The brethren have had a meeting to make some arrangement for religious exercises and for intellectual improvement. It is agreed that there be public worship in the cabin Sunday mornings, and afternoons on deck: morning and evening prayers, a public conference on Thursday evening, and prayer-meeting the first Monday in the month. In our rooms we are to have a missionary meeting every Friday afternoon, a prayer-meeting on Saturday evening, besides meetings

at other times, as circumstances may render expedient. Every afternoon we are to meet immediately after dinner for discussion on theological subjects.

"The brethren have conversed and prayed with the seamen, and find them attentive. The sisters presented to each of them a Bible. It is very common to see one reading aloud, while a number surround him with eyes and ears open, as though they would seize every word."

Soon the seamen showed signs of heartfelt interest; and some of them began to ask, "What shall we do to be saved?" The Spirit of God was manifestly hovering over them, and the whole ship seemed pervaded with an atmosphere of solemnity. So marked a revival on shipboard had seldom been experienced; nor will it be uninteresting to give a detailed account of it in Dr. Scudder's own words. It is found in a communication to his mother, written on shipboard just before his arrival at Calcutta.

REVIVAL ON BOARD THE INDUS.

"DEAREST OF MOTHERS,-As it will no doubt afford you much gratification to be made acquainted with the glorious work of grace which God began, carried on, and completed on board the brig Indus, I will proceed to give you some account of it. Soon after we left our native land, we began to direct the attention of the seamen to the great importance of religion. As they were destitute of the Bible, each of them was presented with one. Numbers of tracts also were distributed among them. They soon began to attend to divine things, as was evidenced by reading their Bibles, tracts, and such books as were put into their hands. Several of them, no doubt,

were convinced very soon that they were sinners, and we have reason to believe that their convictions never wore off until they terminated in a genuine conversion. On the 20th of July one of the seamen fell overboard, and it was a providential circumstance that he was not lost. On the evening of this day, two of the brethren, with myself, went forward to the windlass deck, and endeavored to impress upon their minds the necessity of being in a state of constant preparation for death. One of them, who has since become a most eminent trophy of victorious grace, began to think somewhat seriously upon divine things, and came to the resolution that he would 'knock off some of his sins' (to use his own expression), ' and be better.' He now began to pray and use the other means of grace, but his heart remained like the adamant. The conversations we had at different times with him afforded us no satisfaction whatever of that change of heart, without which no man can see God and live, until the latter part of August, when we trust his name was enrolled among the followers of the Lamb. The twenty-second day of this month of release to his soul from the captivity of sin and Satan will be a day long to be remembered by him. On the evening of the 20th I held some conversation with him on such subjects as were of most importance, and endeavored to examine him and find what his state was, but I was no better satisfied of a change in him than before. I asked him if he had yet seen any loveliness in the character of the Lord Jesus. His answer clearly evinced that he had not seen this King of Zion in his beauty. After I left him, he has since told us what his reflections were. 'I keep thinking to myself,' said he, 'who is Jesus Christ? and