heights of the Himalayas. They saw with eyes raised upward the Spirit of God; they saw the. beauty of God in flowers, in rivers, and everywhere. All the scientists of these days acknowledge the existence of a mighty uncreated force under all these natural phenomena; but they dare not call it God. They have contaminated and sophisticated themselves by false philosophy. They are wallowing in the mire of scepticism. They would not admit that God's communications are made to us now as directly as they were made in olden times to the ancient seers and prophets. To the ancient prophets all Nature was full of God. Some of them used to baptize their followers with water. They used the plain crystal water for human sanctification. Water is Nature's high priest. There in every drop of water is the indwelling presence of God. But we are forgetful of God; we do not behold Him although He encircles us on all sides. God is everywhere or He is nowhere. If my soul is infidel I can see Him nowhere. Faith beholds Him in every grain of corn or in every blade of grass. Do you sincerely believe in God? Is He not present to-day as He was present a thousand years back? Is not God's inspiration universal and everlasting? India's God is not confined to this place or that place. Did not your prophet Chaitanya behold God everywhere? Know ye not that ye are the temples of the

Living God? Upon the pedestal of your own heart I wish to establish God's throne. Why should we undertake a pilgrimage to Brindaban or Benares when God is with us? Have sincere and earnest belief in the Real God of the universe. Books will never cure your atheism. What do you see in India to-day? Civilization on one side, and on the other scepticism and dissipation. O degraded Bengal, how long will you swallow the abominable infidelity of Western civilization? Ah! our fathers were simple. They used to learn the wisdom and love of God at the feet of the Ganges and trees. The modern civilized hypocrites are splendid book-worms. They forsake yonder trees. But if you can spurn that little blade of grass you are not a scientist. If you really seek true wisdom you must convert yourselves into Dhrubo or Prahlada, and have unswerving faith in the saving efficacy of God. You will not need books or earthly instructors to teach you true wisdom; but simply pray to the Living God and He will inspire you with divine wisdom. There is not a drop of blood in your body which does not come from God's feet. There is not a drop of water which you drink which does not come fresh from God. And God dwells concealed in every radiant flame. There is God in every flash of lightning as well as in a vast conflagration. When the sun rises it brings to us the gladdening messages

of God's radiance. Study the sun, the moon, the human body, and then come and say whether live in an atheistic universe. The beautiful volume of Nature is before you.

you

It incessantly proclaims the Great God who is the Father of all nations. Imbue your heart with God's loving wisdom. Every little child whom the mother presses to her bosom is prophetic and poetic. Why should we not be like these little children? Those who are full of the conceit of the world, and delight only in carnal pleasures, cannot behold God in Nature. There is vile infidelity in them. But the men of simple faith, who have no other language but that of prayer, know no one else but their Mother God. The child only wants to know who is its mother. The child is perfectly happy when it has learnt to love its mother, who is its saviour, protector, and

teacher.

So you will enjoy perfect happiness if you only trust the Supreme Mother of the universe. Why should you ask me to-night which religion is true? My business is with God and not with controversial theology. For a quarter of a century I have lived in and for Him. He is my life and vitality, and He is my habitation where I will dwell for ages without end. O my countrymen, see the real God of India, and your eyes shall be pure. Show that you are pushing your energies uphill. I am full of hope for the

future of India. Behold these two flags. One says, "Truth will triumph." The other says, "Come, all nations, unto the true God." The Kingdom of Heaven will certainly be established in India. True religion will sweep off all the accumulated errors and sins of India.

One word more. The Lord God is not only the world's Saviour but Salvation. See Him, hear Him, and touch His feet. Here is our God, our Friend,

O God, India's God, ancient India's God, modern India's God, so many are gathered under Thy feet; in the plenitude of Thy mercy tear our bonds of sin, that all India may ascribe to Thee glory for ever. India knows Thee alone. O Lord God, do Thou save India.

2C

INDIA AND

INDIA'S GOD.

Monday, 10th November, 1879.

FELLOW-COUNTRYMEN, friends and gentle

men of Tirhut, you have now in your midst a number of missionaries who have come to you with the definite purpose of preaching the Living God.

The rising generation of India, I desire to speak to you of God who rules India. Different theologies have ruled India in different ways. The Aryans worshipped God through Nature. They worshipped the sun, the twilight, the trees, the rivers, &c. Their souls were full of the sentiments of one all-pervading God. In those times idolatry did not exist at all. The Aryans arrived at very correct notions of God through intuitive process. Science and philosophy were not then cultivated. Gradually errors crept into the Aryan theology. Some of the Aryans thought that all was God and God was the world, or man was God and God was man. Thus sprang pantheism. But pantheism at last failed to satisfy those who thirsted for some personal Deity. Then people began to imagine several deities. And thus came idolatry. Many false