DEATH OF SARAH AND SIMON.

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prison, and the glory of God is risen upon them, they have passed through the trouble and darkness of a wearisome night, but now the shadows are fled away, and joy is arrived with the morning. They They are now in the world of realities, where things appear as they are, no longer as in a dream or vision of the night; the vital quickening beams of divine light dart in upon their souls from the Redeemer's countenance, and they are changed into his likeness. And now they await the arrival of the period, when even their vile bodies which sleep with those of their brethren shall be raised, incorruptible and glorious, and when the manifestation of the wisdom and power of the great Creator, in refining a clod of earth, a heap of dust, into a celestial purity and brightness, shall call forth afresh the acclamation of triumph, "O grave, where is thy victory"-when the body of Christ shall have been completed, and all the so nearly related parts shall partake in the perfection and glory of the whole, when all the designs with which the divine providence has been in travail for so many thousand years, shall issue in the production of the most glorious results, when the authority of God shall be universally acknowledged and adored, his justice vindicated and satisfied, his grace demonstrated and magnified to the uttermost, and when the Lord Jesus shall be fully glo. rified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe.

Should this little volume fall into the hands of the profane scorner, or the trifling votary of pleasure, we beseech them to pause here, and attend to the desire which has, perhaps, involuntarily risen in their breasts, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his."

The remains of Sarah and Simon now sleep in the burial ground at Herrnhuth-the resting place of these poor heathen is covered by a decent tomb, the external embellishment of which is not less attractive to the eye than that of the simple monuments which mark the graves of many illustrious individuals that sleep around them. A striking memento, that before God, all stand upon the same level, for all have sinned.*

The burial ground of the congregation of the United Brethren at Herrnhuth, called the Hutberg, from the hill on which it is

After the death of Arbalik and Sarah, Matthew Stach, fearing that the climate might disagree with Judith and the Greenland youths, conducted them to Holland, where he found a ship, the captain of which promised to take him and his companions to Greenland. He was first, however, obliged to make a voyage to London, where the poor Greenlanders were presented to the Prince and Princess of Wales, and other members of the royal family, at Leicester House.

The same ship carried them to Pennsylvania in America, where they visited the congregations at Bethlehem and Nazareth, and also the converted Indians, who sent some letters by them to the Greenlanders. In this voyage they were accompanied by Christian David. This old disciple had conducted the first Missionary to Greenland. He had built a house, in which the natives might assemble for the worship of God, and having observed that they stood in need of a store-house for preserving their provisions during the winter, this old man once more left the quiet seclusion of Herrnhuth, in the hope that he might supply their want in this particular also. Nor was he disappointed, for having brought the matter before the American congregation, they willingly gave him sufficient materials to build not only the great store-house for the Greenlanders, but also another smaller store-house and wood-house for the European Brethren.

The voyage from New York to New Herrnhuth, was performed in three weeks, they, however, encountered great danger from the quantity of floating ice, and also from a thick fog, which prevented even the Greenlanders themselves, from discerning the district for a long time.

The Greenland congregation received their first two

situated, is one of the most singular, as it is one of the most pleasant places of rest. It contains the earthly remains of persons widely differing in their outward situations, and the circumstances of their lives; and yet here exhibiting perfect equality: all the graves presenting the same appearance. However unequal as to the measure of their talents, their education, their mental acquirements, their experience; in short, however varied the formation and cultivation of mind may have been among those who are here brought together to rest, yet they all agreed in one religious principle, in one faith, and in one hope."-Period. Acc.

messengers of peace again, together with their country people, who had been absent from them nearly two years, with lively demonstrations of joy, they were soon, however, called to sorrow at the departure of Christian David, for, having erected the house, he returned to Europe by the same ship, which had conveyed him thence; doubtless, many tears were shed on both sides at his departure, and the sorrow which that event occasioned, was heightened by the probability, that in consequence of his advanced years, those, among whom he had gone preaching the kingdom of God, should see his face no more.

The Greenlanders, as may be supposed, made many inquiries of Judith and her countrymen, as to what good things they had heard, seen, and experienced in Europe and America, oftentimes repeating their heartfelt joy at their safe return. In particular, the unmarried women rejoiced greatly to see again so healthy and happy their beloved Judith, who had so often laboured among them in the gospel. Nor could all the attentions which she had received from persons most distinguished for rank and piety in Europe, induce her to slight or undervalue the cordial affection of her humble countrywomen. The power of the grace of Christ was eminently glorified in the sweet serenity of her mind, and in the cheerfulness with which she resumed her labours among the Greenland congregation, whose welfare, as will be seen in the sequel, had been nearest her heart during her sojourn in Europe.

After the happy departure of Sarah, at Herrnhuth, Judith had lived principally in the single sisters' house, and, being persuaded that the external order there observed was very conducive to internal growth, she desired to see the same discipline established in the Greenland congregation. She therefore sent a proposal to the heads of families, requesting them to permit their grown-up daughters, and also their female servants, to live with her that winter in a separate house, and sleep there together, after having done their business in their respective families; that so they might not, as hitherto, be exposed to the danger of seeing and hearing such things as might excite unprofitable or pernicious reflections. Her proposal was agreed to, and,

that autumn, the first single sisters' house was erected, by the joint labour of the Greenland congregation.*

How happily and profitably, both to herself and others, Sarah passed her time in this house, will appear in the following extracts from some of her letters, written, it would seem, to her sisters in Christ, in Europe or America.

"I have been very happy this winter, with my sis ters; and, whenever they were together, they thanked our Saviour for his grace, and employed themselves in discoursing of his sufferings. I sometimes tell them that the sisters over the great waters have no other aim, but to please our Saviour, and live unto him. We then wish, ah! if we loved him so too. Many of the new ones are baptized, and we have taken ten into our house, who afford me much joy."

"All my sisters here greet you. Though they do not know you, yet they often think of you. They are ashamed on account of their wretchedness, but have confident hearts unto our dear Saviour, that he will make them continually more agreeable and pleasing unto him. When we meet together before him, we feel his presence. My dear Saviour leads me, poor weak child, and the Holy Spirit tends and nurses me, at which I am often astonished, but greatly comforted." Thus did Judith labour among her countrywomen for about nine years. It was her heart's great concern," writes Mr. Crantz, "that her sisters might always lead a regular and happy life, and she rejoiced heartily in their prosperity."

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*The United Brethren deem it to be expedient, that the single men and women should be separated in all their settlements, each sex living together in a sort of community. The introduction of such an arrangement into the Greenland congregation must have been attended with many difficulties, in consequence of the roving habits which the Greenlanders had acquired in their heathen state; and it is a remarkable instance of the power of divine grace in overcoming the defects of natural character, that the once slothful Judith should be the individual whose energy first surmounted the difficulties which opposed the introduction of this piece of discipline. Mr. Crantz informs us, that the example of Judith and her sisters was soon after followed by the widows, and shortly after by the young men also. This change in the external circumstances of the Greenlanders, he informs us, tended much to preserve the purity of their morals, and their growth in spirituality.

SANCTIFIED AFFLICTION.

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But her gracious Lord, who does not willingly afflict or grieve any of his children, saw fit to afflict her, in her latter years, with infirmity and sickness. She was often ill with spitting of blood, but what principally grieved her was a hardness of hearing, which in a great measure disqualified her for the arduous post of mistress of the choir-house, as she could not hear all that was said, and therefore could not check her sisters, when disposed to unprofitable or vain conversation. This was certainly the sorest affliction which could befal her, for the prosperity of her sisters was near her heart; but self-will must be entirely broken, we must be pleased to submit to the Lord's appointment, even in our methods of doing good,-to say, like the Apostle, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Let not Christians, therefore, think that any strange thing happens to them, if they are crossed in their fondest purposes of usefulnesstheir gracious Lord may see that such discipline is needful, for the complete subjugation of self-will; and we should welcome every providence, however distressing, which has a tendency to assist in bringing every thought into the captivity of obedience to Christ.

The sweet spirit of resignation which breathes in the following letter, written by Judith herself, shews how far the Lord's gracious purpose in her affliction had been accomplished. "When I reflect that our Saviour redeemed us with his blood, I thank him most heartily. And notwithstanding I am a poor wretched child, he strengthens my weak heart with his body and blood. This winter I have been very weak in body, and often had spitting of blood: I then thought, now I shall go to my Saviour, and often rejoiced greatly at it. But now, that my Saviour restores my bodily health a little, I thank him for that too, and will yield myself up wholly to his disposal."

The amendment of bodily health, spoken of in the preceding letter, was but temporary-Judith's complaint continued gradually to undermine her strength, till at last she was confined almost continually to her bed. In this distressing situation she continued for nearly three months, experiencing the truth of that Scripture which says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect