“I am deeply sensible of its defects. Being anxious to introduce a number of facts, not, as I think, sufficiently known, there is too little Scripture quotation; and I feel it to be wanting in a devotional spirit, though I hope the relation may occasion a feeling of compassion, and excite to exertion in behalf of the heathen.” This hope seems, in some measure, to have been realized, for the accounts given at the time, state that this sermon, which was preached on the 30th of April, and grounded on Isaiah xliv. 20, awakened peculiar interest.[92] As, also, it embodies Mr. Corrie’s convictions respecting the moral condition and responsibilities of the heathen, and developes the means which his experience led him to regard as best calculated to rescue the Hindoo from debasing superstitions; a brief abstract of the sermon cannot well be omitted. Let it be observed, then, that Mr. Corrie purposed in the first instance “Fairly to meet the objections made against missionary efforts, as if the present state of the heathen were unavoidable--as if they were scarcely accountable for their errors,--and our solicitude on their behalf were therefore superfluous.” To meet objections of this kind, he goes on to trace the origin of all false religion, and in this, observes that “Intercourse with heathen nations had inclined him to the opinion, that the original revelation made to our first parents after their fall, is the ground of all the worship offered up throughout the world. That the dispensations of God to Noah and to the Church before him, must have been known to the family of Noah, and would be remembered by his immediate descendants; and carried by them into the different countries, whither they were afterwards scattered. Hence, it was, he apprehended, that the custom proceeded, of offering sacrifices in worship, by the heathen tribes of every description, as the only means of pacifying the Evil Spirit; who, according to their apprehension of him, is going about seeking whom he may devour.