One of the young Hindoos in Dr. Duff’s school in Calcutta, when reading the above and similar passages, was so struck with the difference between these precepts and the precepts of his Shasters, that he could not but exclaim “O, how beautiful, how divine.  Surely this is the truth—­this is the truth—­this is the truth.”  The consequence was, that he never could rest until he had thrown aside his sacred books and his idols, and embraced that Saviour whose precepts appeared to him to be so beautiful.  And was this heathen so struck with the beauty of the precepts of the Bible—­so struck, that he had no peace until he gave himself to his Saviour?  And have you ever, my dear children, been struck with the precepts of your Saviour—­so struck with them, that you could never rest until you had given up your hearts to him?  If not, how great is the contrast between you and that young Hindoo.  He gave his heart to the Saviour.  You withhold yours.  He, through grace, will dwell for ever with Christ in heaven.  You, if you continue in your present awful condition, must be banished from his presence, and cast into hell, where you shall be tormented day and night for ever, with the devil and his angels.  Flee, my dear children, flee to the Saviour now, if you have never yet done so.  Flee to him, and then you also shall dwell for ever with him.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE DECEPTION OF THE HINDOOS.

My dear Children—­From what I have previously stated, you are aware that the Hindoos are a very deceitful people.  Let me give you another instance of their deception.  A late head catechist of one of my missionary brethren was, before his conversion, the priest of a temple.  A man from whom about one thousand rupees’ worth of jewels and similar things had been stolen, came to this priest, and promised to reward him well, if he would detect the thief, and secure to him the restoration of his property.  The priest promised to comply with his wishes; and in order to effect his purpose, he had drums beaten through the village, and proclaimed, that at a certain time he would hold a meeting and detect the thief.  At the appointed time, a large concourse of people assembled, the priest appearing in the midst of them with a cocoa-nut bound around with saffron-cords.  He then told them, that if, after putting down the cocoa-nut, it should move of its own accord towards him, they might know that he would be able certainly to detect the thief; and added, that after it had thus moved, it would pursue the offender, and follow him until it would break his head.  He then performed certain ceremonies calculated to awaken superstitious feelings in the minds of the people, and laid the cocoa-nut down at a little distance from him.  To the great amazement of all present, it began to move towards the priest, and continued to move until it reached his feet.  This being done, he told the people, that they might conclude from what they