I have walked
daily several miles to gather flowers, after bathing and putting on my
temple garments; although I have gone into the temple and made offerings
to the idol; although I have done all this in sincerity to the present
time--this idol, neither in my dreams nor when awake, has ever said,
`Thy sins are forgiven thee.' Although from fear lest the idol should
destroy me, I have fasted and prayed, it never said to me, `Thou shalt
escape hell and enjoy heaven.' Therefore the idol is a lie, and I
forsake it. I embrace Jesus Christ as my Saviour and my God." Mr
Walker gives the following account of him:--"A few days ago, just as I
was leaving the village of Singonahully, after preaching, I saw the
_poojari_ with his guitar in his hand, going off to another village to
beg his bread for the day. I stopped him, and we entered into
conversation on the sin of idol-worship. I told him that in order to
obtain salvation it was absolutely necessary for him to abandon his
idols and embrace Christ as his only and present Saviour. He tried to
appear unconcerned, and said, `It is getting late; I must go for alms,'
and left me. In a few days he came to the Goobbe Chapel, and after the
sermon I spoke pointedly to him, asking him, in the presence of the
whole congregation, if he was desirous of obtaining salvation. He said,
`I am.' I asked if his idols could save him. He answered, `No.' I
then said, `If you will, with all your heart, believe in Christ and
become His disciple, He will save you.' Throughout this conversation
all the people looked at him in amazement. After a few days I went
again to Singonahully, and saw the _poojari_ in company with Daniel. I
preached to a small congregation from a part of the eighth Chapter of
Saint Matthew's Gospel; and in my sermon I proved the divinity of our
Lord Jesus Christ from the miraculous cure he wrought upon the leper. I
showed to them the leprosy of sin; and after dwelling upon the awful
consequences of sin, I exhorted the people to seek for the healing of
their spiritual maladies by faith in Jesus Christ. This done, the
_poojari_ and Daniel accompanied me to my house. At Daniel's request I
read the parable of the Pharisee and Publican, and commented on it. The
next morning the _poojari_ came to my house again, and said he wished to
be baptised. I exhorted him to stand steadfast, by faith in Christ, and
then prayed with him. He appeared to be deeply affected. He came