The Baptist Magazine, Vol. 27, 1835

And again, May 30:--

"Attend, my dear brother, very particularly, to the state of your own soul. Instead of saying, pray much, as I was just about to say, be very careful that your prayers be spiritual--from the heart: live by faith on Jesus Christ. I would add, I mean examine yourself much on this point; for there is much danger of our--those of us whose concern it is constantly to attend to religious matters--I say there is much danger of our doing things, praying, and exhorting, and reading, &c., as matters of course, without entering into them spiritually and seriously. Allow me to say--not because I am your master, but because I love you--study gravity, humility, and benevolence of deportment. Consider we profess to be the messengers of Jesus Christ to the children of God, and to sinful, guilty man: let us always be grave and serious. You and I are young, and know but little; let us be humble, considering others better than ourselves. We are the followers of Christ, and therefore should wish well to all, ever pleasing them for their good to edification."

After spending about fifteen months at Gosport, he came to London, to obtain some knowledge of medicine, and to study the elements of astronomy at the Observatory, Greenwich; from a misapprehension that these, especially the last, would be essential to his success in China. But however much they tended to expand his own mind, they were subsequently found almost superfluous in practice: nevertheless, another object was obtained by his residence for nearly eighteen months in the metropolis. An amiable Chinese was found willing to reside with him, to assist him a little in the acquisition of the language, and in transcribing a Chinese Harmony of the Gospels in the British Museum, and a Latino-Chinese Dictionary, borrowed from the Royal Society, both composed by some unknown Roman Catholic missionaries. It was with reference to him, while employed on the former, that an eminent individual afterwards remarked, that he then little thought, as he passed through the Museum, that that stripling sitting at the table transcribing an unknown tongue, would one day translate the Scriptures into Chinese! Well may we exclaim, "Who hath despised the day of small things?"--"Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."

When the time of his departure from his native shores drew nigh, as I was then at the University of Glasgow, he thus took his affectionate leave of me by letter, January, 1807--

"The period, my dear brother, has new arrived when I must bid an affectionate, and perhaps a last farewell. On Thursday evening I was solemnly ordained to the ministry of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ among the heathen. The service was at Swallow Street. Rev. John Townsend opened by prayer and reading the Scriptures. Rev. G. Burder asked the questions. Mr. Waugh offered up the ordination prayer. Mr. Nicol gave a charge, and Mr. Buck closed the service by prayer. It was a very solemn and impressive opportunity. Messrs. Gordon and Lee were ordained with me. We proceed on the 24th inst. in the Remittance, Captain Law, to New York; from thence they take a ship to India, in all probability to Madras; whilst I alone, in another vessel, sail for Canton. If permitted, I intend to reside there; if not, I shall probably return to Malacca. Such, at present, my dear ----, are my external circumstances and prospects. With regard to success, I am not sanguine, nor am I depressed. I hope--_I believe_ I may safely take the comfort of our Lord's words, 'Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world;' and, with this persuasion, what have I to fear? If Christ be with me, who can be against me? Let me, my brother, have occasionally an interest in your fervent prayers. Pray that I may not think it hard, if I fare as well as my Master! Farewell, my dear young brother; the God of peace be with you! My love to my dear brother Hooper."

Thus inspired, he departed for China, instructed by the Directors to learn its difficult language, and, if possible, compose a dictionary of it, and, above all, to translate the Scriptures into a language understood by a third part of the human race; and counselled by a beautiful letter, officially signed, but evidently composed by my venerable father, Dr. Waugh. At New York he was very kindly received, and obtained a letter of introduction from Mr. Maddison, then secretary of state, to the American consul at Canton, which proved highly beneficial to him there.

He reached China, Sept. 4, 1807, after a speedy but rough passage and, being a perfect stranger, he landed at Macao, with the mate of the ship, who left him next day. He was soon known to be a missionary, and became the object of suspicion to the Roman Catholic clergy there. During that season at Canton, he lived in a cellar, in the most retired manner, and laboured incessantly at the language, with very little success, compared with what his subsequent efforts attained; for he then had only an ignoramus for his tutor. But hear himself from Canton, Sept. 14th, addressed to my own beloved mother:--

"I daily converse with Chinese, but dare not so much as hint that I desire to stay here, or what my intention for coming is. Little merchants and tradesmen daily come to me, to know what I have got to sell, or what I wish to buy. I come to vend the pearl of great value, yet without asking money or price; but dare not tell my errand. I know that you will descend to the grave, praying for the success of your son in the faith of Jesus."

He subsequently resided in the factory of some American agents at Canton, who showed him great kindness, and promoted his views to the utmost of their ability. At first he conformed to the Chinese manners, both as to eating and dress, from an erroneous idea that this would recommend him to their kind notice; but when he discovered his error, he resumed the manners of a European. But so anxious was he to learn Chinese, that he prayed even in secret in it, when he was but very imperfectly acquainted with its idioms. He quite secluded himself from society for months, till his health began to suffer; and the first time he ventured out into the fields was in a moonlight night, under the escort of two Chinese.

In the beginning of 1809, he married Miss Morton, the eldest daughter of a medical gentleman there; and, accepted an appointment in the Company's factory, as Chinese translator, which unquestionably facilitated his perfect acquisition of the language, and added much to his domestic comfort. Such diligence and perseverance could not fail of success. From Macao, December 28, 1810, he thus writes:--

"I believe I was in Canton when I last wrote to you, via., the beginning of this year. I continued there till March, carrying on a discussion with the Chinese government respecting the alleged murder of a Chinaman. I obtained great eclât, by the public examination of witnesses. Every body was astonished, that in two years I should be able to write the language, and converse in the Mandarin and vulgar dialects. In consequence of that, three of the Company's servants determined to begin the study of Chinese; and I have during the summer been a regular Chinese tutor. I pray that the Lord may soon grant to me some from among the heathen, who will faithfully join in the promulgation of divine truth. I wish you had come with me to China: I want some humble, persevering fellow-labourer."