PERPLEXING THOUGHTS. 81 time we get home alive. But we commit our circumstances to Him who best knows our call, our mind, and our distress and often sing : "A man may wholly lose his road, Yet ne'er must lose his faith in God.'" The following extract from the journal of the Missionaries, shews with what painful thoughts their minds were exercised at this period. "In the beginning of the year, on reading 2 Cor. viii. and ix., where the apostle writes concerning the contributions for the saints at Jerusalem, we called to mind that we are obliged to live here in Greenland on such contributions. Now, though we see that we shall scarce be able to maintain ourselves by the labour of our own hands, yet we cannot help wishing, if it was possible, that we could subsist without help and benefactions from without. Not because we should regret being indebted to our friends (though, on account of strangers, and such as are fond of every occasion of reproach, we shall always be scrupulous even of this, that we may not fall under the censure of scorners,) but because it is very natural, even for the children of God, to be tired out if they do not soon see the fruit of our labour. Now we ourselves do not yet see, when and how it may arrive so far, that we shall be able to rejoice in any blessing springing up among this people, especially as we have yet no sufficient opportunity to learn their language perfectly, in order to express what our hearts think about them. But we shall and will shew all the faithfulness that is in our power in the part committed to us, and believing in Him whom we do not see as if we saw him, we fully hope, that he will disclose to us one of the many thousand ways and means, that are as yet in the secrets of his cabinet, how we are to execute his commission to his honour. And we hope also in simplicity, that our brethren and friends in Europe, who endeavour to promote the salvation of these infidels by their adjutory benefactions, may be of the same mind. In the mean time, it is certain, we enjoy every morsel with thankfulness and gratitude towards our benefactors, nor do we forget them in our prayers." Who can wonder that the Missionaries were troubled at their want of success, after they had spent five years with such great faithfulness, in their labours among the heathen? they heard that their fruitless toils had already become the subject of profane derision to those, whose indolent self-indulgence was reproved by their devotedness, and who would gladly quiet their own consciences by persuading themselves and the world that the brethren were wild enthusiasts. The missionaries might fear, lest the misconstructions and calumnies of such enemies might turn the minds of their superiors and benefactors against them, so as to induce them to withhold any further assistance to their undertaking. But they comforted themselves under the reproach of their enemies, and while they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ's sake, they drew encouragement from his example, who also met with this insulting taunt, "Physician, heal thyself." Hitherto, the Missionaries had not seen the least trace of an abiding impression from the truths that had been preached to the Heathen. The Greenlanders that came from a distance were stupid, ignorant, and void of reflection, and the little they could tell them at a short visit, even if it were heard with some impression, was presently effaced from their minds in their perpetual wanderings. Those that lived constantly at Ball's River, and had been instructed so many years, were not grown better, but most of them worse; they were disgusted, tired, and hardened against the truth. They resolved to hear no more without a present, thinking they were entitled to payment even for the trouble of listening. As long as they were told any kind of news, they hearkened with pleasure; they could also bear to hear some little histories out of the Bible, and the miracles of our Saviour and his apostles. But when the Missionaries attempted to teach them concerning the nature and attributes of God, of the fall and the corruption of man, of God's wrath against sin, of the necessity of an atonement, of faith in Jesus, of the means of grace, of the cure and sanctification of the ruined, disordered soul and body, of the example of Christ, and of eternal happiness or misery; they were sleepy; said yes, to all, but slunk away presently. Or else they shewed their THE CARNAL MIND. 83 dislike openly, and began to talk of their seal-catching; or they excused themselves, that they could not understand such things. "Shew us the God you describe," said they, "then we will believe in him and serve him. You represent him too sublime and incompre hensible, how shall we come at him? Neither will He trouble himself about us. We have invoked him when we had nothing to eat, or when we have been sick, but it is as if he would not hear us. We think what you say of him is not true, or, if you know him better than we, then do you by your prayers obtain for us sufficient food, a healthy body, and dry house, and that is all we desire or want. Our soul is healthy already, and nothing is wanting, if we have but a sound. body, and enough to eat. You are another sort of folk than we; in your country, people may perhaps have diseased souls, and indeed we see instances enough in those that come here, that they are good for nothing: they may stand in need of a Saviour, and of a physician for the soul. Your heaven and your spiritual joys and felicities may be good enough for you, but this would be too tedious for us. We must have seals, fishes, and birds. Our soul can no more subsist without them, than our bodies. We shall not find these in your heaven, therefore we will leave your heaven to you, and the worthless part of the Greenlanders; but as for us, we will go down to Torngarsuk-there we shall find an exuberance of every thing without any trouble." In all this the reader will perceive an illustration of those emphatic words of our Lord; "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God:" and of the words of the apostle Jude, describing man, as "Sensual, not having the Spirit." But we need not travel to Greenland for an illustration of these humbling truths; many can recollect the time when "the word of the Lord was unto them a reproach, they had no delight in it ;" and in our daily intercourse with those around us, we see thousands swallowed up in the absorbing influence of the things which are seen, and as destitute of any relish for the invisible realities of eternity, as were these stupid and degraded Greenlanders. Thus the savages endeavoured to ward off, or even to ridicule, every thing that might excite a salutary thoughtfulness about their eternal condition. I dare not mention their profane mockery at the most sacred mysteries of religion. When they were inclined for merriment, and had no threats to check them, there was no truth too sacred for them, against which they would not direct their profane jesting: for the most stupid Greenlander can direct the powers of his understanding to frustrate the arguments and persuasions which are designed to lead him to know and serve the God who gave them. Such were the thick clouds which overcast the prospect of the future conversion of the Greenlanders. ~But this was not all-the savages, in obedience to that instinctive enmity of the natural heart to every thing which bears God's image, withdrew from the company of the Brethren, as people that did not suit their purpose; and they were obliged to search for them among the islands, in their old leaky boat. The following account of one such visiting voyage, and which shews the miserable state of the heathen, is given in the Missionary's own words. Having set out in November to go to Kangek, they were driven by contrary winds to the southern islands, where they met with many known and unknown Greenlanders, and amongst the rest found Ippegau, who two years ago, under God's particular providence, had kept them alive with seal's flesh, and since that time had been in the South. They were kindly received by these people, and though in a couple of days, they gave them to understand that they wanted them to go back, yet they were prevailed on to permit one of the Brethren to live a little while with them, for the sake of improving himself in their language. Accordingly Matthew Stach staid a month with these people. The following is the account which he wrote of them to his brethren: 66 They are very variable in their behaviour, as you know they always are. Sometimes they are cross, and sometimes kind towards me. In the beginning I could talk a great deal with them, and now and then I read them a passage out of the New Testament, but now their desire of hearing is over. I have told them the reason why the Son of God was obliged to die, but they have no ears for such things, and desire me to go out PROFANENESS OF THE HEATHEN. 85 with them, and call upon God's Son to send them seals, because they are in want. I am often shocked at their woeful state. What I tell them of Divine things, is only a subject for their chit-chat and laughter. On the other hand, they extol their sorcerers, who have persuaded these deluded people to believe that they can vanish out of their sight, can glide along an invisible rope to the heavens above, and the abysses beneath, and compel the infernal powers to unchain the captive seals. And when I shew them the absurdity of such romantic fictions, and describe the true state of heaven and hell; they frown in anger, bid me hold my tongue, and so march off. Another time they tell me, they believe all I say, would have me stay longer with them, and learn their language, that I may be able to tell them more. But this good will is of short duration. Once they danced two whole nights running; I believe there were 150 people together in the house; some of them tried to affront and teaze me all manner of ways, and they drummed and bellowed so horribly during their dancing and singing, that they made my ears ache. But I directed my heart to the Lord, and interceded in secret for the salvation of these poor souls. The next day it rained very hard; then they would have me to pray to the Son of God, because he was almighty, to give them good weather, that the wet might not run through the roof into their houses. I told them, there was no necessity to pray for that, because they only need spread their tent-skins upon the roof, and then the rain could not soak through; they should rather pray with me to God to be gracious to their souls. But they only laughed at me, and told me, they understood nothing of the matter, nor did they stand in need of it; though for me, perhaps, it might be good. And indeed, in general, they treat the name of God, and what they have heard, and declared their belief of so many years, in a very contemptuous and spiteful manner. They frequently ask questions which sound very foolish, and yet contain deep-invented satires upon the truth. My soul is often in a flame, when they mock my God. However, the children all love me, and run about after me; sometimes I call them together, speak with them, and ask them some questions. They hearken with |
