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he was wont to do; this, however, is a proof of his sagacity. It is said that he lurks in copices and thickets, bouncing on his prey without facing it; this is neither a mark of cowardice nor of treachery, but only of his sagacity. He seldom preys until impelled by hunger; he does not, like the creature man, take life from a spirit of wantonness, nor does he give more fear to his victim than he can help. He does not, like him, hunt and put in terror for hours together, the victim he at last destroys, but without any warning, without giving more torment than what is actually necessary for the accomplishment of his purpose, in the order of nature, he slays and eats. He is created-is in existence, and consequently enjoined to make use of such means as to him are the most natural for obtaining a subsistence. He cannot, like man, sow and reap, plant and dig up, and if he could, the food supplied by such operations would not be of a nature adapted to his support. To him it would be useless. Not so with his vilifier man. He cannot only live upon it with comfort, but it is more congenial with his system, than many other things he obtains by means which are often cruel and oppressive, and things too frequently of a quality so deleterious, as to degrade him beneath the level of brutes, with which the noble lion would scorn a comparison. In the words of Micah, we shall conclude our remarks.-"The church is likened to a lion strengthened of God; she overcomes, and is terrible to all that oppose her."-Philadelphia Recorder.

ACCOUNT OF THE REV. CHRISTIAN FREDERICK SCHWARTZ.

Our readers will have noticed, that the name of Schwartz, is frequently introduced, when faithful and devoted servants of Jesus, are spoken of. Hence we cannot doubt, but that a brief sketch of his life, and close of his earthly career, will be interesting. Never was there a more faithful and successful missionary than Schwartz, who spent the greater part of his life among heathens, with no other object in view, than to be instrumental, in converting them to Jesus Christ. It is to us a most pleasing fact, that all who are interested for the cause of Christ, admit, that this servant of our Lord, ranks among the stars of the first magnitude. He drank the first milk of the Gospel in the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

We have in our possession a number of his letters, in the German language, which we shall endeavor to translate for the Intelligencer. Editor.

The Rev. Mr. SCHWARTZ was born in Germany, in the year 1726. On the 17th of July, 1750, he arrived at Madras, at the age of

twenty-four, to preach "to the Gentiles" of Hindoostan, "the unscearchable riches of Christ." That he might be more extensively useful, he made himself master of four different languages. His labors were various and immense. He preached much, very often several times in a day. He frequently visited the different churches planted on the southeast coast of India. He instructed the schools of the Malabar children. He visited the sick; and he was often employed in secular transactions of a difficult and confidential nature for the government and for individuals. Even in his sixty eighth year, when on a visit to the churches of Cuddalore and Negapatnam, he commonly preached three times every day, in English, Portuguese, and Malabar. In this "labor of love," he was actuated by the purest motives. Salvation by grace, through the atonement of Christ, embraced by faith, and evidenced by a life of holiness and devotedness to God, was the theme on which he dwelt with peculiar pleasure, energy, and effect. He was himself a shining example of primitive Christianity, and might justly have said, "Be ye followers of me as I am of Christ." So established was his character for integrity, that he was honored with the confidence, not only of the Europeans within his extensive sphere, but also of the native Princes and their subjects. When Tanjore was beseiged, and the garrison perishing with hunger, and when the Rajah solicited and promised in vain; Mr, Schwartz, by merely giving his own personal promise of payment to the country people, prevailed on them to bring in corn by night, and thus saved that important fortress. The late Rajah of Tanjore, though a heathen, frequently consulted Mr. Schwartz on affairs of magnitude; and also committed to the care of Mr. Schwartz his adopted son, the present Rajah; a young prince who favors the Christians in consequence of the impressions made upon his mind by his reverend guardian.

The road between Trichinapally and Tanjore had formerly been very unsafe, the inhabitants being chiefly collaries, or professed thieves; but since the late Mr. Schwartz had been among them so of ten, and had formed congregations in those parts, they had heard nothing of robberies. These people thankfully accepted certain regulations made during the visit of the missionaries, which regulations had also been well received in the more southern congregations; but when they were proposed to the Christians at Tanjore, objections were made to them, as arrangements, which Mr. Schwartz had not judged needful. To such objection they replied, that during Mr. Schwartz's time, his presence and word had been instead of all regu lations.

The labors of Mr. Schwartz were not confined to the instruction and conversion of the Hindoos; but with equal earnestness and fide lity he exhorted nominal Christians, whenever they came in his way English, Portuguese, and German; to "repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ," in order to obtain forgiveness & salvation.

*See the Society's Report for 1795, and the testimony of the Marquis Cornwallis, p. 114.

Vol. V. No. 2.

5

After near half a century of uninterrupted and excessive labors and self-denial in the service of Christ, I find him in a series of confidential letters, which are now before me, exulting, at the close of his days in the prospect of a happy eternity; not building, however, his hope of acceptance with God, upon his own labors and merits; but on the undeserved grace of God, and the meritorious sacrifice of his. beloved Son.

It must afford sincere gratification to the Christian, that whilst adventurers will cheerfully expose themselves to the multiplied dangers of distant voyages and unhealthy climates in pursuit of gain, men are not wanting, who are ready "to forsake all," and freely and voluntarily to encounter as great dangers and greater hardships, for Christ's sake and the Gospel's.

It is a great consolation, that whilst the conduct of many Europeans might induce the Gentoos to suspect, that the God whom Christians worship is Mammon, a Schwartz has been raised up there, the excellence and lustre of whose Christian character and conduct have subdued prejudice, and enforced conviction; have filled the people with love, the Bramins with admiration, and the Rajah with rever

ence.

From the beginning of January to the middle of October, 1797, he pursued his labors in his ministerial office, and in his studies, with great fervor under all the disadvantages of his advanced age. He preached every Sunday in the English and Tamulian languages by turns; and on Wednesday he preached a lecture in the Portuguese language, for the space of several weeks, and afterwards in the German language to the privates, who had been made prisoners on the island of Ceylon; and having taken to the service, were incorporated in his Majesty's 51st regiment, stationed in this place.

He made likewise a journey to Trichinapally, and several times visited Vellam, (a town six miles from Tanjore,) in order to preach the word of God to some companies of the 51st regiment, stationed at that place, and to invite the heathen to accept the blessings of the Gospel.

During the course of the week, he explained the New Testament in his usual order at morning and evening prayers, which was begun and concluded by singing some verses of an hymn; and he dedicated an hour every day for instructing the Malabar school children in the doctrines of Christianity. He was very solicitous for their improvement in knowledge and piety, and particularly for those whom he had chosen and was training up for the service of the church; for whose benefit he wrote, during the latter part of his life, an explanation of the principal doctrines of Christianity, an abridgement of Bishop Newton's Exposition of the Revelation, and some other books.

Though his strength and vigor were greatly impaired, yet his love to his flock constrained him to deny a great deal of that ease and repose which his great age required, and to exert all his remaining strength for their improvement in true religion. He took a particular delight in visiting the members of his congregation with whom he con

versed freely upon the subjects relating to their spiritual interest He told them plainly whatever was blameable in their conduct, and animated them by every powerful argument, to walk worthy of their Christian profession. It was a most pleasing sight to see the little children flock to him with such joy, as children feel on meeting their beloved parent after some absence, and to observe his engaging and delightful method to lead them to the knowledge of God, and of their duty.

He heard almost every day the accounts delivered by the cate chists, of their conversation with Christians, Papists, and heathen, and the effects produced by it, and embraced every opportunity of giving them directions for a wise and faithful discharge of their office.

His strength was visibly on the decline during the last year of his life, and he frequently spoke of his departure, to which he looked forward with joy and delight. The commencement of his illness, which happened on the 7th of October, 1797, consisted only of a cold and hoarsenesss occasioned by a check of perspiration. Dr. Kennedy, who was a particular friend of the Rev. Mr. Schwartz, gave him an emetic to remove the phlegm which was collected in his chest; but he received no benefit from it, for after taking the emetic, he was afflicted with vomiting four or five times every day, so as to be almost suffocated by it, and which lasted till the 27th of November following. It was very afflicting to see the sufferings of our venerable father, and every remedy rendered fruitless which was tried by that humane and excellent man the late Dr. Stuart, who acted for Dr. Kennedy during his absence, and who was very attentive to Mr. Schwartz during his illness. My affliction would have proved insupportable, if a merciful God had not strengthened and comforted me through the unexpected arrival of the Rev. Mr. Jænicke, on the 4th of November.

Under all his severe sufferings, he never uttered a single expression of impatience; his mind was always calm and serene. Once, when he suffered very severely, he said, "If it be the will of the Lord to take me to himself, his will be done. May his name be praised!"

Although his strength was quite exhausted, and his body extremely emaciated, through the frequent vomitings, yet, under all his calamity, he desired that the school children, and others who usually attended the evening prayers, should assemble in his parlor, where, after singing, he expounded a portion of the Holy Scriptures, in a very affecting manner, and concluded it with his fervent and importunate prayers. It was always his custom to hear the English school children read to him a few chapters out of the Bible after evening prayer, and to hear them sing some of Dr. Watts's hymns. During his illness, he seemed particularly pleased with that excellent hymn, which begins with the following words:

"Far from my thoughts vain world begone,

Let my religious hours alone;

Fain would mine eyes my Savior see;

I wait a visit, Lord, from thee!"

He called it his beloved song, and desired the children to sing it frequently to him.

He earnestly exhorted and entreated the heathen, who visited him in his illness, to forsake their idolatry, and to consider betimes the things which belonged to their peace. When one of them began relating that wonderful things occurred in the town, our venerable father answered, "The most wonderful thing is, that after hearing so often the doctrines of Christianity, and being convinced of the truth of it, you are notwithstanding backward to embrace and obey it." In conversing with another heathen of consequence, he expressed his great regret at leaving him in his idolatry, when he was entering into eternity; and added the following words: "I have often exhorted and warned you, but you have hitherto disregarded it: you esteemed and honored the creature more than the Creator."

On the 23d of November, he was visited by Serfogee, the present Rajah, then presumptive heir of the kingdom of Tanjore, and to whom the Rev. Mr. Schwartz was appointed guardian by the late Tulja Maha Rajah. On being informed that Serfogee Rajah wished to see him, he let him know that he should come immediately, as he doubted whether he should survive till the next day. On his arrival, he received him very affectionately, and then delivered to him his dying charge, by which, though pronounced in broken language the Rajah seemed to be deeply affected. The tenor of his speech was as follows:

"After God has called me hence, I request you will be careful not to indulge a fondness for pomp and grandeur. You are convinced that my endeavors to serve you have been disinterested; what I now request of you is, that you would be kind to the Christians. If they tehave ill, let them be punished; but if they do well, shew yourself to them as their father and protector.

"As the due administration of justice is indispensably necessary for the prosperity and happiness of every state, I request you will establish regular courts, and be careful that impartial justice be administered. I heartily wish you would renounce your idolatry, and serve and honor the only true God. May he be merciful and enable you to do it."

Our venerable father then inquired whether he sometimes perused the Bible; and concluded with very affecting exhortations, to be mindful of the concerns of his immortal soul.

The resident, Mr. Macleod, who had been on a visit to Trichinapally for some weeks, hearing on his arrival the ill state of Mr. Schwartz's health, had the kindness to send for Dr. Street, from Trichinapally. The Doctor arrived here on the first of December, and after consulting with Dr. Stuart, he recommended the tincture of steel to be taken with an infusion of bark, which, by the blessing of God, put a stop to the vomiting, with which he had been afflicted since the seventeenth of October.

On the third of December, the first Sunday in Advent, very early in the morning, he sent for the Rev. Mr. Jænicke and myself, and

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