Truth, the thoughtful student of History reads a lesson far more instructive and impressive than all that sages can teach. There — amidst the roll of drums and the blare of trumpets, despite carnage and destruction — he discerns an almighty plan which has been constantly piloting the world towards justice, righteousness and unity. There he distinctly discerns that the current of events is not a sport of chance but that "through the ages one increasing purpose runs," and that an all-guiding finger has been incessantly writing the grand epic of our salvation.
Four centuries ago, the religious life of Bengal was at a very low ebb. The country was sunk in the depths of superstition and immorality. The little faction of Vaishnavas, weak and limited as it was, had lost its hold on the pristine purity of Vaishnava doctrines, and had degenerated into a class noted for extravagant rites and meaningless ceremonies. The people were mostly votaries of Saktaism. Origin- ally a most harmless and thoughtful wor-
