“March 8. Above Mirzapore, last night, when on shore, I observed a Brahmin at his devotions, and wished to enter into discourse with him. After some questions, I asked him, ‘What benefit he expected from his devotions?’ Another Brahmin answered, ‘What but that Narsingha should supply food to fill his belly.’ I observed, ‘that many who never made _poojah_[81] were supplied with food:’ He said, ‘If any would make _poojah_ he might serve us, and we would provide for him; but they that lived there by themselves made _poojah_, and Narsingha provided for them.’ But I asked, ‘In the world to come what do you expect from your devotions?’ To this he answered, ‘Who knows what will be in the life to come?’ One of my Dandees on this said, ‘Sahib asks about your Shasters and your religion: he is a Brahmin among the English as you are: he marries, says his prayers, and gives to the poor as you do, if not, why should he enquire about your religion, who else of the English would enquire?’ “15th March. I have to-day been officiating to the congregation in the new Church at Secrole: on going, had felt thankful for being permitted to worship in this place, and prayed that it might be indeed a house of prayer. O may the Lord grant a blessing to his own truth, and bring many sons unto glory at Chunar! On Wednesday, had public worship at Church for the English and Hindoostanee; many attended. I was grieved at the spirit manifested by Mr. ----and others there. The bitterness of their spirit is what I lament, and their contempt of all subordination. O may my own soul be more attentive to obey my Lord in spirit and in truth! I seldom enjoy nearness to God: I do not walk closely with him, but suffer company, reading, and undue indulgence of myself to interfere with time of devotion. Lord, I beseech thee to enable me to lay aside every weight, and to run, looking unto Jesus! “Sunday, March 22nd. At Chunar, Serjeant Williams’ wife, on my asking her if she yet knew the way of acceptance with God, answered, ‘It is through Jesus Christ: He is, indeed, himself the way; and I continue day and night in the consideration and expectation of his mercy.’ At Buxar, an old woman who seems in a dying state, on my asking her how sin could be forgiven, said, ‘Surely in no way but through the Lord Jesus Christ; He took our nature upon him, and endured suffering and death for our sins, and now through the mercy of God we shall be saved.’ I asked her what she thought of the employment of heaven? She said ‘She should there see the Lord Jesus, and love and worship him for ever; and that those who do not love and worship him on earth cannot enter heaven.’”