as and Gungaputrs of Benares is notorious. Many a
poor pilgrim has suffered from their exactions, and we may suppose that
reverence for the sacred city has received a shock under such treatment
similar to that which Luther experienced on his visit to Rome. While
Hinduism is no doubt greatly strengthened by the resort of the people to
Benares, much done and endured there is well fitted to alienate the more
thoughtful of the visitors; and so far as they are alienated from the
prevailing superstition, the more likely they are to listen patiently
and candidly to the Christian preacher.

[Sidenote: PROSPECT OF SUCCESS.]

I conclude these remarks on Benares as a mission sphere by observing
that marked success there would have a marvellous effect on the
evangelization of India. The news would soon spread that Hinduism was
drying up at its fountain, and that its power could not be much longer
maintained. We know that Hinduism itself has undergone great, we may say
radical, changes, since Kasee became one of its principal seats, if not
its head-quarters. There Buddhism was first preached, and from it
Buddhism went forth to all Eastern Asia. There it was for a time
predominant, but Hinduism again obtained supremacy, and drove its rival
from the field. For centuries, Hinduism under the form of devotion to
Shiva Mahadeo, the Great God, as they delight to call him, has had full
sway. Is his dominion to last for ever? Are the people to be for ever in
the slough of idolatry and superstition? We cannot believe that they
are, until we abandon all trust in Him who rightly claims all human
hearts, and whose grace is sufficient to enforce these claims. We know
not when, we know not how, but we do know that even in Benares, as all
the world over, our blessed Saviour will take to Himself His great power
and reign. Even now entrance has been gained for the truth of God,
hearts have been won by it, and Christian churches have been formed. The
first-fruits have been gathered, and the harvest will come. Are we
allowing imagination to take the reins at the expense of judgment, when
we indulge the hope, that as in former days Buddhist preachers went
forth from Benares to the millions of Eastern Asia with the lessons of
Gautama, the Brahmans of Benares, accepting Jesus as their Saviour, will
go forth with His Gospel to diffuse it far and wide among the nations of
India, and then, with their converts, make their way to the remotest
East? Let us not