ful;

from the reach of his persecutor: amid all the heavy inconveniencies of his sickly body, he was always cheerhe once wrote thus of himself: " I, poor cripple, am heartily poor, but our bleeding Saviour, with his wounds, is become my comfort, besides which, I have none. Whenever I think on this, my heart rejoices. Of myself, I should never have obtained comfort, but he has fixed my thoughts and senses upon his wounds. Therefore, I constantly cleave unto him, and because I am so poor and wretched, I will even hide myself in bis wounds."

The reader will observe from this short account of Kuanak, that he was one of those, whose meek and retiring disposition was peculiarly calculated to disarm the rage of the persecutor: the cruel treatment which he received, therefore shows how highly the enmity of Kainaek's heart, already roused by convictions, must have been exasperated by the gentle reproofs of Kuanak's example and conversation.

We have no further account of Kainaek, until the year 1744. At that time, New Herrnhuth was visited by a number of savages from the islands, who came for the purpose of murdering some of the baptized Greenlanders, under the pretence that some of them were related to the murderers of their friends, for in Greenland, where they have no established laws, the savage inhabitants think themselves bound to avenge the death of any of their friends who have been murdered, and if their vengeance does not light upon the murderer himself, it vents itself on his innocent relations, or on such as only happen to live on the same land; one fact, among many others, furnished in the annals of heathenism, which shews the utter insufficiency of natural conscience, to direct men in the path of duty, and which illustrates the suitableness of the promise, "Thou shalt hear a voice behind thee, saying, this is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." The Missionaries described to the savages, the sin of murder, and remonstrated with them on the injustice of their purpose. They also sent for the baptized Greenlander, who was the chief object of their vengeance, and by this man's protestations of innocence, the savages were appeased, and promised to

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do no harm to him or any of the believers doubtless, in this sudden change of their purpose, and in the extraordinary protection, which had been all along vouchsafed to these Christians, a little helpless band of strangers, in the midst of a savage people, the Missionaries recognized the guardian hand of the great Head of the church, who has all hearts at his disposal, and whose care for His little flock in Greenland, was as great as for His church in ancient times. "When they were but a few men in number, and strangers in it. When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people, he suffered no man to do them wrong, yea, he reproved, even kings, for their sakes, saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.''

6

999

Among this band of savages, the Missionaries recognized poor Kainaek, and having reminded him of the tastes which he had had of the powers of the world to come, during a season of awakening among the savages four years before, and having exhorted him with earnest affection, to surrender himself up to the Saviour, he was much moved, and confessed with tears, that he was a miserable corrupted creature, that he knew very well he ought to be converted, but could not, because he liked better to wander up and down with the savages.

But Kainaek's agitation was still more increased, when Kuanak, the victim of his malice, came forward, extenuating his barbarous cruelty, by saying, that he had very well deserved the blows, and, at the same time, entreating him and his companions to be converted; they wept all together, and, doubtless, the tears of Kainaek, on this occasion, were expressive of the same emotions, as those which wrought in the breast of Saul, when he discovered how David, the unoffending object of his hatred, had spared his life. "And Saul lifted up his voice, and he said to David, thou art more righteous than 1, for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil."

The case of Saul to which we have just alluded, proves that the strongest convictions are not able to turn the current of the unconverted heart from its purpose of criminal indulgence, and this was the case with KaiᏞ

naek, for, notwithstanding the strong convictions which the exhortations of the Missionaries, seconded by Kuanak had excited, no abiding impression was at this time made upon him.

66

In the month of May following, the same band of savages marched to New Herrnhuth, at a time when most of the Greenlanders, at least, all the men, were absent in search of food; and all the Missionaries, except Matthew Stach, were gone to visit them. He thus relates this alarming occurrence : They came from the Sound, where their tents are now standing, first to the colony, and then to us. My room was so full, that there was no stirring, I could not guess their aim. I knew what they had threatened, but I was not afraid, and went on quietly with my translation. When they had sat awhile, their chief said: We are come to hear something good.' I said, I am glad of it, only let the rest of the people come into the house first. He sent for them in directly. I sang first:

Let the world hear, &c.

The Lamb's sweet art,
Hath won my heart;

His voice I proved,

I bow'd, believ'd, and loved.

you are

Then I prayed, that the Lord would open their hearts to understand what he should give me to say to them. After that, I spoke a few words on a passage out of my translation, Acts xvii.-concerning Paul's occurrence at Athens, and afterwards I said: 'Yet I will not say a great deal to you of the Creator of all things, for you know already that there is a Creator. This, all but one, confirmed. You also know, that wicked people, to which, they all said, yes. Now, then, I will tell you of the most necessary point, viz. that you and we have a Saviour, who is the same that made all things at first. He came into the world like another man, resided upwards of thirty years upon earth, did the will of his Heavenly Father, and instructed mankind. Afterwards, he was fastened up to a cross, and slain by his countrymen, who would not believe his word. But the third day he rose again from

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the grave, and afterwards ascended up into heaven. Now the time is approaching, when he will come again in the clouds of heaven, then all the dead will arise, and appear before him, as the righteous Judge, and he will render to every one according to his works. Then, I turned to the chief, and said: But thou, poor man, how wilt thou stand before Him, when all the souls whom thou hast dispatched out of this world, shall step forth, and say to Him that sits upon the throne, this wicked wretch murdered us, just as thou hadst sent thy messengers to us, and hindered us from hearing the account of our salvation. What wilt thou then answer?' he was silent, and cast his eyes down to the earth. I observed now, that a tremour seized them all. therefore, I proceeded: 'Hearken to me, I will put thee in a way, how thou mayest escape this tremendous judgment, but thou must soon put it in practice, or else death will put it out of thy power, for thou art old. Fall then at the feet of Jesus. Thou canst not see him, yet he is every where. Tell him that thou hast heard, that he loves the human soul exceedingly, and rejects no one that cries for grace, though he be the greatest sinner; tell him he shall have mercy on thee, poor wretched creature, and expunge thy sins with his own blood,' ́ and so on. He promised with an affected heart, that he would. When I had finished, Anna began, whose brother they had murdered in the year 1739, she also exalted the power of Jesus' blood, which had evidenced itself so happily on her and hers, and admonished them not to withstand the truth any longer. When she had done, Sarah came, and kept them a long discourse. They heard it all with great attention, and afterwards walked up and down the place in a thoughtful posture, with their hands folded, but towards evening, they departed." From the fact of Kainaek's being found in such company, the reader may form some idea of the turbulence of his natural character.

We hear no further account of this heathen until the year 1750, and then he is presented to our notice, running his career of sin, and provoking the long suffering of God to deliver him over to the dominion of his own lusts.

Some time before this period, one of the savages came to New Herrnhuth, requesting the protection of the Missionaries from the violence of Kainaek, this was immediately granted, which so enraged Kainaek, that he threatened to set fire to the Brethren's buildings. Shortly after he made his appearance at the settlement, and being charged with having uttered this threat, he denied it. He was now often seen at Herrnhuth, nor was it until some time afterwards that the wicked purpose of his frequent visits appeared.

But the God of all grace bad designs of mercy towards this wicked heathen; although He saw his ways, he purposed to heal him; and, notwithstanding all his multiplied transgressions, He was yet to allure him, and bring him into the wilderness, and speak comfortably to him; and, even while he was thus going on frowardly in the ways of his own heart, his wickedness was overruled for his good; for by his frequent visits to New Herrnhuth, he was brought within the sound of the Gospel, and thus the spark of conviction which had so long lain dormant in his breast, and which he would gladly have smothered, was preserved from total extinction.

Towards the end of the year 1752, the Brethren set out on an excursion to the islands, and visiting Kangek, they there found Kainaek, who had gone to reside in that place, the savages in general received the Missionaries kindly, and Kainaek took them into his house. These zealous servants of Christ availed themselves of this favourable disposition in the Greenlanders, by pressing the Gospel on their acceptance, both in public discourses, and private conversations. With Kainaek

and his wife, they were particularly earnest, and, in a conversation which one of the Missionaries held with them, the good man's heart was so cheered with the persuasion that the great Shepherd was already leading these poor wanderers to his fold, that he said, "After all, you belong to our Saviour, just as you are; and I am persuaded he will certainly get you and yours, and baptize you with his blood." Kainaek's wife replied, "Hannesse, do you believe this of us in good earnest;" he said, 66 Yes, and until then you will never get rid of the uneasiness of your heart."