A FRIEND IN NEED. 51 use of such instruments as seemed most mean and despicable in the eye of the world, for accomplishing the grand designs of his kingdom, to shew that the honour appertains solely to Him, and to instruct mankind not to rely on their own penetration or power, but on his benedictive hand. His majesty was pleased to acquiesce in the representation of this minister, accepted the offered services of the brethren with the most gracious expressions; and after the difficulties had been once more weighed and removed, he came to a resolution to promote anew the cultivation of Greenland, and the conversion of the heathen. He not only permitted these three brethren to go thither as missionaries, but also desired that more might soon follow them; and was gracious enough to write with bis own hand to Mr. Egede, that he should receive the brethren in a kind and friendly manner, and take care that they were forwarded in their intention, and in no way hindered in their labour among the heathen. In all this the pious reader will recognize the hand of Him who turns the hearts even of kings, like the rivers of water whithersoever he pleaseth. Lord Pless further manifested his kindness to the Missionaries by introducing them to several pious persons of quality, who conversed with them to mutual edification, and made them a present towards the expense of their voyage and settlement in Greenland, without their solicitation. Among other things, Lord Pless asked them, how they proposed to find themselves food in Greenland? They answered, by the labour of their hands, and God's blessing; that they would build them a house, and cultivate the land, that they might not be burdensome to any (for they did not know then, that the land consisted almost of nothing but bare rocks). He objected, that there was no wood there to build with. The brethren replied, that they would then dig into the earth, and lodge there. "No," says he, “you shall not be driven to that shift-take wood with you, and build a house; accept of these 50 dollars for that purpose." Both he and several other great personages, who were well-wishers, added to their stock, with which they bought some building materials, and other neces saries. At last, on the 10th of April, 1733, they went on board the king's ship Caritas, accompanied with many. sincere wishes of blessing from the court, and all benevolent minds. The word of the day, on which these men of God left home, country, and friends, for the inhospitable shores of Greenland, was,* "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Heb. xi. 1. "We view him, whom no eye can see, The peculiar suitableness of this word to the nature of the work in which they were about to engage, must be evident to the reader; it will appear still farther in the course of the history. They had a speedy voyage, sailing by Shetland, April 22d, and passing there out of the North into the West Sea, or long reach, they entered Davis's Straits the beginning of May. May 6th, they fell among some floating ice, in a thick fog, and the next day were assaulted by a terrible storm, but this very storm drove the ice so far asunder, that it also dissipated their fears. The 13th, they spied land, but the very same day, after a total eclipse of the sun, there arose a violent storm, that lasted four days and nights, and drove them above 60 leagues back. May 20th, they entered Ball's river, after a voyage of six weeks. The word of the day was, "The peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus,' Phil iv. 7. and the exhortation founded upon this Scrip ture. "Let all your senses be composed and quiet." By this they were frequently encouraged to a peaceful and believing perseverance in patience during the first ensuing years, amidst all the oppositions they met with, and the poor prospect of the conversion of the heathen. • The Moravian church publishes annually a book, containing texts of Scripture and some lines of a hymn, as subjects for meditation for each day of the year. The text appointed for April 10, was that mentioned above. A MISSIONARY DWELLING. 53 Wretched as the country looked in comparison with Europe (for they found scarce any thing but bare rocks, and steep cliffs covered with ice and snow,) yet they rejoiced that they were arrived to the station they had so long wished for. The sight of the first Greenlanders gave them joy, though they could not speak a word with them; their pitiable condition pierced their heart, and they prayed the Lord, who is the light to lighten the Gentiles, that he would grant them grace, wisdom, and power, soon to bring some, if not all, out of darkness into his marvellous light. They were much invigorated in this mind, by passages of Scripture which came with power to their minds in their daily reading ; as, for instance, Rom. xv. 21: "To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see; and they that have not heard shall understand." Heb. xi. 27: "By faith he forsook Egypt; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible." As soon as they landed, they repaired directly to Mr. Egede, and delivered the letters of recommendation which they had received from some members of the College of Missions. He welcomed them very cordially, congratulated them on their undertaking, and promised them his best assistance in learning the language. Then they immediately searched the nearest habitable seacoasts for a place to build on; and having fixed on the spot, they kneeled down and consecrated it with prayer. They fell to work directly, to run up a Greenland house, with stone, and turf laid between, in which they could shelter themselves and their things from the snow and rain, till they had erected their wooden house. They also took the precaution of purchasing an old boat from the captain, in order that they might procure some provision by fishing. It was a forward season, and the snow was melted as much as it used to be in June, and yet it was often so cold, that the turf froze in their hands. On the 6th of June, they had finished their *The ship which carried out the Moravian Missionaries, conveyed the joyful intelligence to Mr Egede that the Greenland trade would be renewed, and the Mission supported, and that the king had devoted to these objects, the annual sum of £100. Thus this faithful servant of the Lord was delivered from the painful uncertainty as to temporal support, in which we left him at the close of the last chapter. Greenland hut so far, that they could enter it with thanksgiving and praise; and then they pulled down the tent of boards in which they had been obliged to creep and shelter themselves in the interim. They spent the rest of the time, till the departure of the ship, in writing letters. Directly after the ship had sailed, June 15th, they laid the foundation of their dwelling-house, for which they had brought wood from Copenhagen; and in five weeks they advanced so far, as to have one room fit to be inhabited. They also began to build a Greenland house, in hopes that some heathens might occasionally come to receive instruction; but, they knew not how many weary years should elapse before these hopes were to be realized. We shall here insert some extracts from the letters of the Missionaries, exhibiting the state of their heart, and their upright mind, and ardour for the conversion of the heathen. In a letter to the whole congregation, having first given a brief description of the country, and its inhabitants, they say: "You may now very well address that saying to us, Should a man even lose his road, let him never lose his faith in God.' Yes, here, in truth, the way is barred up. We retain that for our daily lesson : 'Let all your senses be composed and quiet.' As to our own persons, we are very happy, but our desire is to win souls, and we cannot gratify it yet. Yet, by God's grace, we will not despond, but keep the Lord's watch. When he puts himself in motion, we will move on with him, and will not swerve from his presence. Let but the time for the heathen come, and the darkness in Greenland must give way to the light, the frigid zone itself must kindle into a flame, and the ice-cold hearts of the people must burn and melt. Because we know our way is upright before the Lord, therefore our hearts are not dejected, but we live in cheerfulness and joy. We are open and manifest before the eyes the Lord. It is true, all men count us fools, especially those who have been long in this country, and know this people; but still we rejoice, and think, where the Breaker is come up before us, there must be room to tread and follow, though the appearance may be ever of LETTERS FROM THE MISSIONARIES. 55 so adverse. We hope to remain always in this mind: and even if we should effect nothing in Greenland, we will render him the honour due unto his name, though it should be for nothing else but that we are humbled and made low in our own eyes. But Jesus, whose heart is replete with faithful love towards us and the poor heathen, knows all our ways, and knew them before we were born. Can any honour redound from us to him? Our substance, life, and blood are at his service. Through his death he has restored life to us, has absolved us from our sins, reconciled us with himself, and has gathered a people that is his property, to shew forth his praises. O that the death of our Lord Jesus might bring all men to life, and that all might follow this faithful Shepherd!" Matthew Stach also wrote the following animating epistle to his former companions in the house where he had lived. "I call upon you, my brethren, from a land where the name of Jesus is not yet known, and where the Sun of Righteousness is not yet arisen. You live in the bright noon-day, the sun is risen upon you. Has he now warmed your hearts? Or are some of you still frozen? The light is sprung up around you all; but he that is not yet arisen to walk in the light, better were it for him if he lived in Greenland, and had never heard of Jesus. For to know what is good, and not act accordingly, is a reproach to the truth. The heart of Jesus burns for love after the salvation of men ; and can he let a soul, that is heartily concerned to enjoy him, go up and down for four, five, or six years, and not reveal himself to it? I cannot believe it, for I have experienced the contrary. When I sought him with all my power, and when my power was insufficient, and could exert itself no longer, then my eyes still swam in tears, and my heart palpitated with desire. And when even the fountains of my eyes afforded no more tears, and my heart had no more strength to beat, in this helpless misery the Friend of sinners came, kissed me in spirit, and healed the wounds in my conscience. Nor is such a transaction a mere imagination of the mind, but it is a Divine power that fills the whole heart. "But ye, that have known the Lord Jesus, and have been washed in his blood, let grace replenish you fully; |
