afraid to be the first Burman to confess Christ?" "No,
it is a great privilege, and I hope you will receive me at
once."
Three weeks elapsed ; and, meanwhile, all the
members of the mission at different times conversed
with him, and were satisfied that a work of grace was
FIRST BURMAN CONVERT.
begun in his heart. At length, one evening, after par-
taking of the Lord's Supper, they had a letter before
them, expressing in the most affecting terms his faith
and hope, and his desire for Christian baptism.
"Whereas my Lord's three," said he, "have come to
the country of Burmah, not for the purposes of trade, .
but to preach the religion of Jesus Christ, the Son of
the Eternal God, I, having heard and understood, am,
with a joyful mind, filled with love. I believe that the
divine Son, Jesus Christ, suffered death, in the place of
men, to atone for their sins. Like a heavy-laden man,
I feel my sins are very many. The punishment of my
sins I deserve to suffer. Since it is so, do you, sirs,
consider that I, taking refuge in the merits of the Lord
Jesus Christ, and receiving baptism in order to become
a disciple, shall dwell one with yourselves, a band of
brothers in the happiness of heaven ? And, therefore,
grant me the ordinance of baptism." Other three
weeks passed, and the zayat was crowded, one evening,
with a group of eager listeners. At the close of the
service, the preacher called before him Moung Nau;
and, after asking several questions concerning his faith,
and hope, and love, he baptized the first Burman convert.
And, the Sunday following, they sat down together at
the Lord's Table. "Oh, may it prove," was Mr.
Judson's breathing that night, "the beginning of a
series of conversions in the Burman empire, which shall
continue in uninterrupted succession to the end of time ! "
A scene of another sort was witnessed one night at
a spot not far distant. Entering a zayat in the precincts
SCENE IN A PAGODA. 73
of one of the most magnificent pagodas, the missionaries
found it gorgeously lighted, the floor spread with mats,
and a frame raised some eighteen inches from the ground
for the preacher who was to address the people. The
natives, as they came in, seated themselves on the mats ;
the men on the one side, and the women on the other.
At a given signal there was silence ; each worshipper
took a flower and some leaves, and placing them be-
tween his fingers, and raising them to his head, re-
mained motionless as a statue. By this time the
preacher, a man of a very pleasant countenance, and
about five-and-forty years of age, had seated himself on
the dais ; and now, starting to his feet and closing his
eyes, he repeated from their sacred writings certain
wild legends, describing the conversion of Gautama's
two chief disciples, with their subsequent apotheosis
and glory. At first dull and monotonous, he glided
by degrees into tones the most mellifluous and soft,
winning their way insensibly into the heart, and lulling
the soul into that calm serenity which, to a Burman
mind, somewhat resembles the boasted perfection of
their ancient saints. The discourse lasted half an
hour ; and at the close the whole assembly " burst
forth into a short prayer," and, rising, prepared to
retire. As the missionaries entered, all eyes had been
turned on them, the whisper going round, " Here come
some wild foreigners ;" and, as they sat down and took
off their shoes, some had whispered, "No, they are
not wild, they are civilised;" whilst others, recognising
Mr. Judson, had added, with bated breath, " It's the
74 A NATIVE PRIEST.
English teacher." And now, as the assembly was dis-
persing, they were accosted by the preacher, and were
invited to visit him. " We are missionaries," said Mr.
Judson, "religious-making teachers" (as the term in
their idiom implies). The preacher's countenance fell;
and, suddenly separating from them, he disappeared.
Returning to the mission-zayat, we are in front of
a building of bamboo and thatch, some seven-and-
twenty feet by eighteen, divided into three compart-
ments, and raised four feet from the ground. In the
division next the road, without doors or windows, or
any protection to the front, and occupying a third part
of the whole building, sits Mr. Judson all day long,
saying to the passers-by, " Ho, every one that thirsteth,
come ye to the waters ; " whilst in the inner apartment is
Mrs. Judson, surrounded by a group of female scholars,
each with a torch and a black board, industriously
writing and reading. Let us enter the front room for
a few moments, and sit down beside the missionary.
It is Monday morning; and, accompanied by a
petty officer from a neighbouring village, a young man
ventures in, slowly and modestly, as if some burden
lay upon his heart. Last evening, at the service,
he was observed by the preacher deeply solemnized;
and now he stays almost all the day, intent on the
great business of his eternity. And he has not come
alone. A companion listens most attentively to the
message of life ; and they leave, promising to return, to
learn more perfectly the way of God. " Considerably
encouraged to-day," writes Mr. Judson, after they are
SCENES IN THE ZAYAT. 75
gone, " with the hope that God is preparing a people
in this benighted land."
Another evening we are in the zayat, and there
steps aside from the highway for a few moments a
wealthy native, attended by his suite. He has been
over in Bengal ; and, having been poisoned by some
foe to missions, he breaks out into a virulent tirade
against Mr. Judson and his work. " I felt," the latter
writes, "that he would most gladly be foremost in
destroying us ; but, through divine grace, I was enabled
to treat him with meekness and gentleness." And the
opposer retires, ashamed.
Scarcely is he out of sight, when another visitor
approaches, with a grave and thoughtful mien. A re-
spectable merchant, and formerly an officer, he is
"not a little versed in Burman literature;" and long
and earnestly he listens to the missionary's burning
words. " I see," he at length says, " I am all wrong :
how I regret that I have been two years in your neigh-
bourhood without knowing you ! this is an auspicious
day." " Read this tract," rejoins the missionary,
kindly, as he rises to leave, " and come again as soon
as you are able." " Yes," whispers the Burman, the
tear glistening in his eye ; " I wish to be a disciple."
It is a Saturday, the Burman day of worship ; and
the zayat is "thronged with visitors throughout the
day ; more or less company, without intermission, for
about eight hours." Among them is a young man of
twenty-seven, of very pleasant exterior, and evidently
in good circumstances. He has been in several times ;
76 SUN-LIGHT TH110UGH THE MIST.
and now, though apparently backward at first, he ap-
pears to be really thoughtful. The next morning he
is at worship, and stays through the whole day. There
was an assembly of thirty, with whom, after worship, he
had some warm disputation. " I begin to feel," writes
Mr. Judson, as the evening closes, " that the Burmans
cannot stand before the truth."
On these scenes, the missionary himself was learning
heavenly lessons. " I feel," he wrote, " more and more
the inadequacy and comparative insignificance of all
human accomplishments, whether in a minister or in a
missionary, and the unspeakable, overwhelming import-
ance of spiritual graces humility, patience, meekness,
love; the habitual enjoyment of closet-religion; a soul
abstracted from this world, and much occupied in the
contemplation of heavenly glories. You know not, you
cannot conceive, how utterly unfit I am for the work. I
am, indeed, a worm, and no man. Yet I feel necessity
laid on me to remain here and try to do a little some-
thing." And Mrs. Judson added : " I know you often
wish to know certainly whether I still approve the first
step I took in the missionary cause ; and whether, if I
had the choice again to make, with my present know-
ledge and views of the subject, I should make the same.
Well, I frankly acknowledge that I should do just the
same ; with this exception, that I should commence
such a life with much more fear and trembling on
account of my unfitness, and should almost hesitate
whether one so vile, so poorly qualified, ought to occupy
a place of so much usefulness."
A PANIC. 77
CHAPTER IV.
A panic The king " Gone up" New emperor Ominous
rumours Reign of terror Swearing fealty Mockers Viceroy
at zayat Inquirers " New-born soul " Two natives Coro-
nation Contrast First baptism Night-scene " A molecule
of matter" First Burman Prayer-meeting A sceptic "I
know nothing" The spy-priest Threatened storm Must visit
Ava "A greater than the Emperor" A fisherman "Know
not what it is to love my own life " First-fruits Clouds lower-
ing First visit to Ava The voyage Scene on the Irriwadi
The palace "The golden foot" The petition Royal dis-
pleasure Repulse Prospects.
A SUDDEN panic had seized Rangoon. The troops
were under arms. Great news was whispered. " There
is a rebellion/' said some : " The king is sick," said
others : " He is dead/' breathed a third ; but none dared
to say this plainly it would have been a crime of the
first magnitude, for the " lord of land and water " was
" immortal." At last, one morning, a royal dispatch-
boat pulled up to the shore. An imperial mandate was
produced. The crowd made way for the sacred mes-
sengers, and followed them to the high court, where
70 THE NEW KING.
the authorities of the place were assembled. " Listen
ye," ran the royal order. " The immortal king
wearied, it would seem, with the fatigues of royalty
has gone up to amuse himself in the celestial regions.
His grandson, the heir-apparent, is seated on the throne.
The young monarch enjoins on all to remain quiet, and
to wait his imperial orders."
Ominous rumours soon began to get abroad con-
cerning the truculent disposition of the new king.
One uncle he had killed in cold blood ; and another he
had dispatched by a slow death in prison. Ere long, a
reign of terror set in. Visitor after visitor at the zayat
whispered with bated breath the name of the ' ' owner
of the sword," involuntarily looking round as if some
bloodhound of death might be lurking behind the
neighbouring wall. " He will not suffer any innova-
tion," they said, addressing Judson, "least of all, a
new religion ; and he will cut off all who embrace it.
Why, then, stay here in Rangoon, talking to the
common people ? Go direct to the ' lord of life and
death/ If he approve the religion, it will spread
rapidly ; but if not, no one will dare to continue his
inquiries, with the fear of the king before his eyes."
It is the first day of " Burman Lent ; " and all
the members of the government are assembled at the
great pagoda, to swear allegiance to the king. As the
crowd disperses homeward, a large company enters the
mission-zayat, bent on ridiculing and persecuting any
who may look like inquirers. The tempest thickens ;
and the convert Moung Nau one day withdraws. And,
A RISING STORM. 79
at the same time, a report spread, that several who
used to attend the zayat-worship have been privately
to the pagoda, offering pagan-sacrifice.
A few weeks later, at sunset one evening, the
viceroy passed the zayat, returning from an excursion
of pleasure, seated on a huge elephant, and attended
by his guards and a numerous suite. It was the first
time he had been that way since the zayat was built ;
and, as he came up, the missionary and his wife were
seated in the front apartment, surrounded by several
Burmans. Eyeing the building narrowly and sus-
piciously, they had not been past many minutes, when
two of the viceroy's private secretaries returned, armed
with a viceregal order, requiring that the printing
materials should be sent forthwith to the palace. They
were informed that the types had gone to Bengal, along
with the teacher who understood their use; and they
departed with evident chagrin. A day or two passed;
andj at a brief interview, Judson, handed to the viceroy
the tract as a specimen of their work. " It is the
same," said he, somewhat roughly, " as I have already
seen ; I want no more of that kind of writing."
The viceroy's decisive tone, coupled with sundry
other significant hints, indicated only too surely a rising
storm. Was it not time, some one hinted, to seek
an interview with the king ? "I have long thought it
desirable," Judson replied, "but have never felt that
the time had come. I would rather that God should
open the way, than attempt to open it myself. Every-
thing seems to say, ( Put your trust in God alone/ "
80 NEW INQUIRERS.
Meanwhile, He who " openeth and none shutteth,"
was visibly carrying forward His work. A young man,
who had lately been several times at the zayat, came in,
one morning, wrapt in deep thought. " I am a sin-
ner," he whispered, with much emotion, on being
asked what was the state of his mind, "and I am
exposed to future punishment : the Buddhist system
has no way of pardon; your religion has, and it has
also a way of enjoying endless happiness in heaven : I
therefore want to believe in Christ." The same day,
in the evening, a Burman woman was kneeling with
Mrs. Judson and shedding many tears. " Oh ! " she
cried, as they rose from prayer, "that I might obtain
an interest in Christ ! "
Another day, a new inquirer appeared in the person
of Moung Thahlah. Of good natural abilities, and
engaged, like Levi, at " the receipt of custom," he had
arrived at Rangoon on government business ; but such
was his sudden attachment to the religion of Jesus,
that, like his prototype, he decided not to return.
" To-day," writes Mr. Judson, " I had a conversation
with him, which almost settled my mind that he is
really a renewed man." And, three days later, he
adds : " Had another conversation with Moung
Thahlah, which at length forced me to admit the con-
viction that he is a real convert ; and I venture to set
him down as the second disciple of Christ among the
Burmans. He appears to have all the characteristics
of a new-born soul; and, though rather timid as to an
open profession, he has, I feel satisfied, that love to
NIGHT SCENE. 81'
Christ which will increase and bring him forward in
due time." A fortnight passed; and, as they were
conversing one evening on some difficult passages in
St. Matthew, Mr. Judson enquired, "Do you love
Christ yet, more than your own life ?" "I purpose,"
he replied, understanding Mr. Judson's question, " to
profess the Christian religion, and I begin to think
seriously of being baptized."
And another heart was quivering under the stroke
of the divine archer. Not far from the zayat there
had been living for some months, with his family, a
Burman, whose regular attendance on worship and in-
defatigable industry at the evening-school where,
though in his fiftieth year, he had learned to read
attracted not a little notice. In a conversation some
weeks before, he had betrayed " a thorough legalism,
relying on his good works, though evidently desirous of
knowing and of embracing the truth." Now, however,
a glimpse of the gospel of Goc['s grace had dawned
upon him ; and, professing with much brokenness " a
full belief in Jesus Christ," Byaa had expressed a desire
" to become a Christian, and to be baptized with Moung
Thahlah."
Six weeks passed ; and, one night in the twilight,
two natives entered the zayat, as if shunning the eye
of any passer-by. It was Thahlah and Byaa, with
a joint paper in their hand, professing their faith in
Christ, and requesting to be privately baptized. A
long colloquy ensued ; and, after not a little to gladden
the hearts of the missionaries in token of their real
82 A CONTRAST.
faith, they were recommended to wait for a little until
they " loved Christ enough to be not unwilling to dare
to die for Him."
A fortnight later, the converts had mustered more
courage ; and they presented an urgent petition to be
baptized, not absolutely in private, but " about sunset,
away from public observation." Again there was a
protracted converse, and much earnest prayer. At
length, assured by them that, if brought before the
government, they " would not think of denying their
Saviour," and convinced that they were " influenced
rather by a desire of avoiding unnecessaiy exposure
than by that sinful fear which would plunge them into
apostacy in the hour of trial, they agreed to baptize
them the succeeding night at sunset."
During these days, Ava had been the scene of a
most august and gorgeous festival. The grandees of
the empire and all its leading citizens had been cele-
brating the birthday and coronation of the king. And
all the resources of barbaric splendour and of priestly
vanity had been lavished, to swell the imposing mag-
nificence of the ceremonial. But now Rangoon was to
witness another scene, which He who rejoiced in the
lowly anointing in the village on Olivet more delighted
to honour. It was the Lord's day ; and, as the people
dispersed from their evening -worship at the zayat,
the two candidates, accompanied by three or four of
their friends, were seen, about half an hour before
sunset, on their way to the appointed spot. It was
no light enterprise which they were taking in hand.
A SPARK. 83
Burmah threatened to be the gospel's forlorn hope;
and the little band whom now the Captain of the
Lord's host was gathering seemed likely to be the first
to storm the breach. But, " knowing whom they had
believed/' they had come forward meekly to confess
Him. " The sun/' writes Mr. Judson, " was not
allowed to look upon the humble, timid profession.
No wondering crowd crowned the overshadowing hill.
No hymn of praise expressed the exultant feelings of
joyous hearts. Stillness and solemnity pervaded the
scene. We felt as a little, feeble, solitary band. But
Jesus looked down on us, pitied and forgave our weak-
nesses, and marked us for His own ; and perhaps, if
we' deny Him not, He will acknowledge us, another
day, more publicly than we venture at present to ac-
knowledge Him."
And another event transpired. "A spark," it has
been said, "is
' A molecule of matter, yet may it kindle the world.' "
Such a spark was now kindled" in Burmah. " This
evening,"* writes Mr. Judson, chronicling on earth
what already God had chronicled in heaven, f " is to be
marked as the date of the first Burman prayer-meeting
which ever was held. None present but myself and
the three converts. Two of them made a little begin-
ning, such as must be expected from the first essay of
converted heathens. We agreed to meet for this
purpose every Tuesday and Friday evening." And,
* November 10, 1819. t Mai. iii. 16.
84 A BURMAN PHILOSOPHER.
four days later, he adds : " Have been much gratified
to find that this evening the three converts repaired to
the zayat, and held a prayer-meeting, of their own
accord."
One morning, a visitor entered the zayat with a
very peculiar air. A teacher of considerable dis-
tinction, and learned in all the Buddhist mysteries, he
had got hold, some eight years before, of the idea of
an Eternal Being ; and, ever since, it had been floating
in his mind, a rude disturber of his peace. Half-deist
and half-sceptic, Moung Shwa-gnong still worshipped at
the pagodas, conforming to the prevailing superstitions.
But a tract, lately brought to him by one of his ad-
herents from the zayat, had induced' him that morning
to visit the foreigner. Hour after hour one day from
ten in the morning till quite dark, he disputed with
Mr. Judson in the presence of some disciples whom
he usually had with him ; the debate commonly
ending where it began in apparent incredulity. One
evening, however, after the others had retired, Shwa-
gnong lingered behind. " Oh ! I know nothing ! "
he exclaimed, with deep emotion, prostrating himself
and performing the shiko ;* "will you condescend to
instruct me ?" Eight days passed, and he was again
for many hours at the zayat, when the issue was, an
admission of the existence of an Eternal God ; and he
left " half inclined " to accept the Scriptures as a reve-
lation of His will. Another day, after listening to a
* An act of homage which a Barman never performs but to an
acknowledged superior.
THE SPY-PRIEST. 85
declaration of the Christian idea of atonement, he
replied, " That is suitable ; that is as it should be."
But these visits were exciting alarm. A priest reported
him to the viceroy, as a heretic who had " renounced
the religion of the country." Deferring any decisive
order, the governor pronounced the ominous wordy
" Enquire farther about him." Hastening to the priest,
he " apologised, explained, flattered," though not for-
mally recanting. And, a day or two later, he was at
the zayat, but "quite another man," he was cold,
distant, reserved uttered scarcely a word and " took
leave as soon as he decently could."
A week or two afterwards, Mr. Judson was taking
Lis usual ride one morning along one of the pagoda
roads to bathe, when he was accosted by a spy-priest,
who peremptorily forbad him to ride in future within
the sacred ground, on pain of being beaten. The vice-
roy had issued an order, levelled at " any person wearing
a hat, shoes, or umbrella, or mounted on a horse ; "
and, trifling as was the ex elusion^ from certain grounds,
the proceeding was significant as a symptom that there
was a secret purpose to put down the mission- work.
And other symptoms were not wanting. Ever since
the affair of Moung Shwa-gnong, there had been a
visible falling off at the zayat. At times, though it
was the finest part of the year, and many were con-
stantly passing, the missionary would sit whole days
without a single visitor. His object being now well
known throughout Rangoon, no one called, as formerly,
out of curiosity ; and none dared to call from a prin-
86 A NEW STEP.
ciple of religious inquiry. Only a belief among the
leaders in ecclesiastical affairs, that he would never suc-
ceed in making converts, prevented the outbreak of
direct persecution.
A new step, therefore, was at length demanded.
"Our business/' Mr. Judson wrote, "must be fairly
laid before the Emperor. If he frown upon us and
prohibit our missionary work, we shall be under the
necessity of leaving his dominions. If he favour us,
and be in any measure pleased with the Christian
system, he will, we hope, give us at least such private
encouragement as will enable us to prosecute our work
without incurring the charge of rashness and enthu-
siasm. But," he added, "there is a greater than the
Emperor before whose throne we desire daily and con-
stantly to lay this business. Lord Jesus, look upon
us in our low estate, and guide us in our dangerous
course ! "
Meanwhile, the " greater than the Emperor" vouch-
safed another visible token of His presence. A Burman
fisherman had for some months been repairing at in-
tervals to the zayat, evidently in deep concern. His
mother, baptized a Roman Catholic in consequence
of her connexion with a foreigner, had whispered to
him " the idea of an eternal God ; " and, led one day
to the zayat by an incident to be afterwards named,
he had heard words which rooted the thought in his
soul. " How I long/' said he, " to know more of
Christ, that I may love Him more ! " Another day
he was observed, during public worship, his whole soul
FIRST VISIT TO AVA. 87
absorbed ; and, somewhat later, Mr. Judson wrote " He
made me half inclined to believe that a work of grace
was begun in his heart/' Within a few days, the mis-
sionary added " He has begun to pray to our God.
He is quite sensible of his sins, and of the utter inefficacy
of Buddhism, but is yet in the dark concerning the way
of salvation. Lord Jesus ! give him the knowledge
of thine adorable self ! " The next week, after listen-
ing in the zayat all day, he followed the teacher home.
They conversed the whole evening, and his expressions
satisfied them all that he was one of God's chosen
people. Desirous to confess Christ by baptism, he was
warned by Mr. Judson of the danger to which he was
exposing himself. " Do you love Christ/' he enquired,
" better than your own life ?" "When I meditate on
this religion/' he replied, very deliberately and solemnly,
" I know not what it is to love my own life."
With these first-fruits four precious souls- God
had been sealing the work as His. Satan, therefore,
raged and sought to put it down. Each day the clouds
were lowering into a darker gloom ; and it was at last
finally resolved to proceed to Ava, and to lay their mis-