Their declarations on this occasion were such, that the missionaries were quite surprised at the knowledge they had already gained by the Spirit"s light, and not by the instruction of man; and with fervent thanksgivings to the Saviour they joined frequent prayer, that he would grant them grace and wisdom to lead these souls, awakened from death unto life, according to their measure, and in the best manner, so as to farther their progress on the way to everlasting life.
The first person with whom this delightful and amazing work of grace began, was a female, and such an atrocious sinner, that she was abhorred even of the heathen. Hearing a discourse from these words, "The son of man came to seek and save that which was lost," she was much struck with it, and asked herself, "Can this be true, that the Saviour came to save such sinners as me? ah! there are none so wicked as I!" Wholly absorbed in these thoughts, she remained in the meeting-hall when the others had left it, unconscious that she was alone. Then suddenly starting up, she ran to a solitary mountain to give vent to her full heart, where, falling down upon her knees, she cried, "O! Jesus, I have heard that thou camest to save the wicked--is that true? make me also to know it. See I am the most wicked of all, let me also be delivered and saved--O! forgive me all my sins!" While she continued fervently praying, she experienced a peace in her heart she had never felt before, and returned from this exercise so completely altered that it was evident to every one; her mouth now overflowed with praises for what her Saviour had done for her soul.
Her change made a deep impression on a moral, intelligent, but self-righteous unbaptized woman. She could not comprehend how one so wicked and debased could speak of Jesus with so much joy and praise, when she, who was so very superior a character, felt nothing of the kind. On this she became unhappy; she began to perceive her hitherto supposed righteousness was only a filthy garment, and in an agony, ran to her she had formerly despised as a sinner, to ask how she could obtain forgiveness of sin, and love to Jesus. The latter took her by the hand, and both went to a solitary place, where she prayed that the Saviour might also shew mercy to her; and now these women got rest to their souls, and with one mouth declared what great things the Lord had done for them. Shortly after, two other women joined them, and these four were of one heart and one mind. Their uncommon spirituality attracted the notice of the congregation, and they were honoured by the formalists among them, with the epithet of "enthusiasts," but soon the Spirit of G.o.d was shed abroad on them also, and new life was infused into the members of the church, and throughout the settlement.
In the meetings an extraordinary degree of eagerness and devotion was perceived--they no longer went to church merely for form"s sake, but from the impulse of their hearts, and to find comfort and enjoyment; and after the meetings, many came into the house to express their thankfulness that they now experienced the truth of what was spoken, and could bear witness of its power; or to request an explanation of what they yet but partly understood. The schools were diligently attended, and many of them, especially the men, showed a great desire to learn to write. Some proceeded so far, though with but little instruction, as to be able to write a pretty legible hand; a few copied out the collection of hymns, and several seemed to take a particular delight in letter writing, of which the following, from Jonathan to William Turner, formerly a missionary in Labrador, but then residing at the brethren"s settlement at Fulneck in Yorkshire, may serve as a specimen--Jonathan and his wife Sibylla were the first Esquimaux baptized at Hopedale. It was dated October 1804----"My beloved William, First I will tell you, that since we two travelled together in a boat, and you then spake so much to me about the state of my soul, I have never forgot your words of instruction. I was a very bad man at that time, and also when you lived here I walked in darkness, and continually did that which was bad. After I was baptized I was not much better, and when I went with you to the holy communion while you lived here, I had many bad thoughts, of which I very much repent. But since you left us, I have turned with my whole heart to Jesus, and all my thoughts and desires are drawn towards him.--Now that I begin to be old, the feeling of his forgiveness is my only comfort, and I have nothing which I so much desire after as Him, and to enjoy His peace in my heart. I will never more leave my teachers. I can be satisfied no longer with anything but my loved Jesus, therefore I wish I loved my Saviour more than I do. He loves me much, that I feel and know, but I am a poor human creature, and know by experience, that I can do nothing of myself, no, not even love him as I would. I pray constantly that he would keep me and instruct me, and my heart feels that when I go daily to him and crave his help, he hears me, and lets me experience that he is a loving Saviour, ready and willing to help. I do not forget him when I am in my usual occupations, but my mind is always craving after Jesus; when I go about with my boat, and am absent from my brethren, still my soul is taken up with Him. My wish is, also, that I may have a pleasant grave for my body when I die," meaning that he might be with believers in their burying ground.
"I love my wife as I ought. When you was here, I was always leading her into bad things, but now we often speak together, that we will fix our minds only upon Jesus, and both live only for him, loving and following him. I am your poor JONATHAN. William! I salute you and your wife."
The awakened Esquimaux were also examples of industry to their countrymen, and in the years of scarcity, the brethren remarked with pleasure, that they had a sufficiency, while the heathen were starving; for with their Christianity, they had not only learned diligence, but economy and foresight. Nor did they now, as formerly, depend upon the stores of the missionaries, or tease them for food after they had wasted their own; but rather suffered hunger, or were contented with a very scanty meal, while they showed a readiness to a.s.sist them in all their undertakings, in cutting wood, building houses, or making roads which were found necessary for the convenience of the station.
While the missionaries in Hopedale were rejoicing in the great mercy shown to their beloved Esquimaux, the brethren at Nain were mourning over the sore backslidings of many of their congregation. "We are sorry to say," are the lamentations of their letter, "that most of our Esquimaux flock seem to fall very far short of what we might expect, and the craft and power of Satan is but too often visibly exerted to pluck up and to destroy the good seed sown into their hearts. We discovered grievous deviations into which some had fallen last summer, during their absence from us; and we perceived with pain, that in difficult occurrences, or in sickness, they are too hasty to listen to the sorcerers, and take refuge to their legerdemain tricks for help, rather than call upon our Saviour, and trust to him. Some, however, are of a different description, and give us good hopes of their being faithful."
The brethren at Okkak likewise hung their harps upon the willows. "Our baptized brethren have not," say they sorrowfully, "been as steady as they ought. When we spoke with individuals after their return to us, concerning their spiritual condition, we discovered, to our great grief, among some of them, offences and wicked practices which had long been kept secret. We were obliged to advise several rather to leave us quietly than serve sin in secret, and attempt to deceive us by their untruths and hypocrisy. With some this produced repentance and reflection, and they begged to be forgiven and borne with; but two persons were dismissed, and two excluded from the communion. In general there was great lukewarmness of heart observed among the people, and we had but few instances of genuine conversion." They were also invited by their heathen friends in the north to come and eat whale-flesh, and all our remonstrances were in vain, for they answered, "that if they stayed at Okkak they must suffer hunger." An epidemic disease again visited this settlement, and carried off seven individuals very suddenly, which struck such terror among the people, that the greater part of them fled from the place to escape the contagion; but the missionaries remarked, that neither upon the sick or the dying, nor upon the healthy, was any salutary effect produced.
The dogs too were attacked with a similar disorder, and many died along the coast--a serious loss to the Esquimaux.
Meanwhile the awakening at Hopedale continued to go forward, and early in the summer extended itself to the children. The young, as well as the old, had been addicted to a gross and loathsome sensuality, which, although both they and their parents considered as trivial, yet they kept it carefully concealed from the missionaries. It happened now, however, that a grandmother, who herself perceived the iniquity of these depraved practices, caught her grand-daughter repeating some of the acts for which she had formerly chastised her; but instead of beating her, she carried her to the missionary to whom she was ordered to confess every thing. Surprised and horror-struck at the disclosure, the missionaries immediately spoke to the parents and children, and with great earnestness and plainness represented to them the criminality of such doings. To their inexpressible grief they found that the corruption had extended even to the youngest, and that some of the parents had concealed, and even now excused their conduct; they therefore held a special meeting with the parents and children, and addressing them according to their capacities, warned them in the most forcible manner of the frightful consequences of these secret sins, and exhorted all earnestly and affectionately to flee to the Saviour--throw themselves at his feet--implore his mercy and forgiveness, and pray to be delivered from the slavery of sin and Satan. Then kneeling down with the whole company, they entreated the Saviour to heal the deep wounds they had inflicted on their souls, and the injury they had done to his cause. Their prayers were heard. A pungent sorrow for their former sinful lives, was felt and expressed by old and young; this was followed by a general awakening among the children, which again had a powerful effect in stirring up the more advanced to seek a closer union with Christ, and to strive more earnestly after holiness. Children were now observed to retire to mountains and to vallies, where, on their knees alone, and in groupes, they besought the Saviour with tears to have mercy on them, forgive their sins, and receive them into the number of his children: and many of the unbaptized little ones showed a great anxiety to be favoured with that ordinance.--It was a blessed time--all hearts were opened to attend to the instructions and exhortations brought from the word of G.o.d--all were inflamed with the love of Jesus, and the eagerness to hear more and more of Him who was the friend of sinners, was indescribable.
When the Esquimaux returned from their summer places, and settled at Hopedale for the winter 1804-5, their teachers found, to their great comfort, that they had not only been preserved from sinful practices, but that the work of the Holy Ghost, so manifest during the foregoing winter, especially in the hearts of some of the women, had made farther progress. They had become better acquainted with the natural depravity of their own hearts, and the wretched state of a soul without Christ, which made them cry to him for mercy; and they had truly experienced grace and the forgiveness of sin in his precious blood, by which their hearts were filled with joy and comfort in believing. Out of the abundance of their hearts, therefore, their mouths spake of the love and power of Jesus, by which a very serious impression was made on the whole inhabitants of the settlement, and all longed to be partakers of the same grace. This spark of the Lord"s own kindling spread rapidly; and the missionaries had daily visits, either from inquirers crying out, what shall we do to be saved? or from those who had obtained peace, to tell them what the Lord had done for them. A widow, in reference to a conversation she had with one of the missionaries the day before, expressed herself thus: "Now I rejoice that I can again visit the meetings, where I hear of Him who, notwithstanding all my worthlessness, has _so_ loved me! When we are a.s.sembled, I will ever pray to Jesus that he would put such words in your mouth as will speak to my heart." Another said, "I am often moved to tears when I consider what G.o.d my Saviour has done for me. I start back with terror when I reflect upon my former wicked life. I have been an abominable sinner; and that Jesus should have received me in mercy, and granted me to believe that his blood can wash away all my sins, and deliver me from the power of evil, is a favour so great that I am amazed at it, and sink down with shame and grat.i.tude. I can do nothing but look to him. I am as one walking upon a smooth sheet of ice, and obliged at every step to guard against falling. He must uphold me, and for this my heart is constantly lifted up in prayer to him." The observation of a third was, "I am convinced that I have hitherto failed in truly hungering and thirsting after the love of the Saviour; since my baptism I have been as one standing where the road is divided." Several others made similar declarations.
While this heavenly flame was in full blaze at Hopedale, two young Esquimaux, Siksigak and Kapik, arrived there from Nain, February 1805.
Their parents were both baptized; they were as wild as the wildest of the heathen. The former had separated from his wife, who was baptized, for some time and meant to convey her back to her mother, to get rid of an inc.u.mbrance, intending to marry another at Nain, who promised to second him better in his heathenish abominations--to leave the believers altogether, and along with his companion, to enjoy his freedom, and live with him in the gratification of every evil l.u.s.t.
But they were both arrested by the power of the Lord. Siksigak, as soon as they reached Hopedale, took his wife, Benigna, to her mother, the widow Rachel"s, and pushing her in said, "Never come more in my sight." He then went to his own mother"s house, on entering which he found the Esquimaux engaged in prayer, as was their custom before they went to rest; for she had been converted, joined the church, and was married to a second husband. The family did not allow themselves to be disturbed by his arrival, and he sat down quite astonished at what he saw and heard, till prayer was ended, when he informed them for what purpose he had come. The whole company then began to entreat him most earnestly not to part from his wife, but rather to turn with his whole heart to Jesus. The missionaries likewise added their exhortations, but without avail; he still persisted in his determination. His relations perceiving that he was immoveably fixed, resorted to prayer; and, on the following day, they all a.s.sembled around him in his mother"s house, kneeled down, and cried unto our Saviour that he would convert him. The mother expressed herself thus, "O! my Lord Jesus!
behold this is my child, I now give him up to thee! O accept of him, and suffer him not to be lost forever!"
Such a scene, so unprecedented and so unexpected, had an immediate effect on the young man; he was filled with concern for his soul"s salvation. He burst from them, and in the greatest distress ran to brother Kohlmeister"s, where Kapik was waiting for him with the greatest impatience.
Provisions being placed before them, Kohlmeister sat down to write at a table with his back turned to them. While attempting to eat, Siksigak repeatedly sighed deeply, and at length began bitterly to lament his wretched state in disjointed exclamations: "O! how agonizing the thought! I am so wicked! I am lost!" "What is it? what do you want?" asked his companion in a rude and angry tone. "O! I am so wicked! I am lost!" replied the tortured Siksigak. Kohlmeister, who thought some accident had befallen him, turned round in an indifferent manner and asked him what is your name? Kapik, supposing the question addressed to him, answered, "Kapik." "And will you always continue to be Kapik?" said Kohlmeister. "I will always be Kapik,"
returned the other.[H] "Wilt thou go away then and be quiet?" said the missionary, sharply. Meanwhile, he was observing Siksigak, who, in his agony and confusion, was turning the spoon in his hand, and bringing it to his mouth empty, apparently without knowing what he was about.
Kapik, still more distracted than his companion, threw his spoon from him and rushed out of the house. He was met at the door by another missionary who, seeing his wild appearance, asked him, "Will you never change your life--never be converted?" "I know nothing about conversion," replied Kapik, and went off in a rage. Coming to his cousin"s where he was to sleep, he found the whole family engaged in their evening worship, and at the instant he entered, he heard his relative praying for his conversion. That night he retired silently to bed.
Siksigak, so soon as his companion was gone, broke out, and like one in despair, paced the room with quick and hurried steps, tearing his clothes and his hair, and crying aloud, "O! unhappy man! I am so wicked! I am lost! I am lost!" Kohlmeister now asked him affectionately who told him that he was so wicked and must be lost?
Siksigak related what had taken place at his mother"s, and how her words had pierced him; and with much compunction ingenuously confessed the abominations of which he had been guilty, and the sins in which he had still intended to indulge. The missionary then asked him, whether he sincerely resolved to amend his life? and being answered in the affirmative, told him, he had put away his wife, that was a great sin, wholly contrary to the will of G.o.d; and if he would be delivered from his present agony, he must, in the first place, openly take her back.
"That," cried out Siksigak, "I will gladly do; my wife is good, but I am bad! very bad!" Immediately he ran to his mother and told her all; and with such humility, that his countenance indicated the change that had taken place in his mind, and the begun answer to her prayer. They then proceeded together to his wife, of whom he begged forgiveness for all the ill usage she had received from him, and promised, by the a.s.sistance of G.o.d, never more to give her cause to complain, if she would consent to come and live again with him. Agreeably surprised at so sudden and unlooked for a change, she cheerfully and readily agreed to return. Siksigak having given this proof of his sincerity, went to the missionary--for still he had got no rest to his soul; and he preached to him the Saviour who receiveth sinners, and called upon him to turn to Jesus and pray to him, though he could say nothing else but, "Jesus, thou Son of G.o.d, have mercy upon me!" He followed this counsel, and that same night was delivered from all his distress, and could believe that his sins were forgiven.
Kapik had spent the same night restless and almost hopeless--convinced that he deserved, and afraid that he would be everlastingly lost. Ere the morning had scarcely broken he came to Kohlmeister, who presented to him the same Saviour and Redeemer, who would not reject him, and in whom he shortly found peace to his soul.
These two now joyfully thanked and praised G.o.d their Saviour, who had redeemed them; and, filled with life and spirit, set out on their return to Nain, where they testified with boldness of what they had heard, seen, and experienced at Hopedale. They related to the missionaries with an ingenuousness and sincerity, which the latter say they had never before known among Esquimaux, how the Almighty power of Jesus had awakened them, by giving them a proper sense of the wickedness of their ways, and caused them to resolve to turn to Him in truth as their Saviour. Now they began earnestly to declare to their countrymen the necessity of a thorough conversion of heart, representing how they ought to believe and acknowledge themselves sinners, confess and repent of their sins, and flee to Jesus for pardon and deliverance from the power of sin; for without this, all, so called conversion, was ineffectual, and no fruits of righteousness would appear. Some of the baptized received their exhortations in the true spirit of the Pharisees of old, and in a rage upbraided them, saying, "Ye wicked and abandoned fellows, will ye speak to us?" "That we are wicked we well know," was the meek reply; "but yonder, in Hopedale, we learned that there is a Jesus who came to die for sinners, who receives such even as we, and saves them."
Their old acquaintance heard them with astonishment--some mocked, and others hated them for it; but several, who had been admitted members of the congregation, became gradually convinced, and began to doubt whether their cold formal Christianity were of the right kind, and whether they had not been deceiving themselves and others. They came spontaneously to their teachers, and with tears, and in a manner the latter had never before witnessed, confessed their sins, wept on account of the deceit they had so often practised; and declared that the more they were led to consider their former life, the more deeply they were convinced of the treachery of their own hearts. The sensations of the missionaries are thus described by themselves.
"Though we could not but feel pain on account of their former hypocrisy, our grief was counterbalanced by the joy we felt at the amazing power of our Saviour"s grace, by which their hearts were thus broken and melted. Our faith and courage, which in some of us was indeed very weak, revived; and we saw clearly, that with G.o.d, nothing is impossible. Thus the many prayers offered up, and tears shed by our brethren and sisters in Labrador, on account of the conversion of the Esquimaux nation, began, after _thirty-four_ years, to shew their fruit. And we now often encourage each other to pray our Saviour to give us the needful grace, strength, and gifts to declare the gospel unto them; and so to fill our hearts with his love, that we may lead and serve those, his sheep, so as to promote their growth in grace, and in his love and knowledge." The awakening here, as at Hopedale, extended to the children. The frequent visits of the Hopedale Esquimaux were made very useful to the congregation at Nain; many of whom moved to Hopedale, among whom were Siksigak and Kapik, who wished to reside where they had been so powerfully laid hold of by the grace of Jesus; "and," to use their own expressions, "be there thoroughly converted to Him"--hoping to receive much advice and a.s.sistance from the believers at Hopedale; and being afraid that their old heathen a.s.sociates might hinder their progress at Nain; nor could they bear the thought of remaining longer at a place where they had spent their former lives in sin, and might again be led into temptation.
By means of these two converts the report of the awakening among the Hopedale Esquimaux spread to Okkak, and even farther north, creating a very considerable sensation among the heathen, three families of whom arrived at that settlement with the avowed determination of becoming obedient to the gospel, and turning to Jesus with their whole heart. The schools were also attended with the blessing of G.o.d, and both children and adults made good progress in their learning; and the missionaries remark, "That it was very edifying to hear them exercising themselves in their own dwellings, in reading and singing hymns." Morning and evening prayer, ere the close of the year, had been set up in every family; and while the melody of praise ascended from every dwelling, tears of holy grat.i.tude mingled with the brethren"s prayers for the stability and increase of the Redeemer"s kingdom among the Esquimaux. The intercourse between the settlements became now more frequent, interesting, and profitable; the converted natives, particularly the sisters, when on these visits, showed such an ardent desire to describe to their countrymen the love and mercy of G.o.d, which they themselves had so savingly experienced, that they went about from tent to tent, and particularly to their own s.e.x spoke so powerfully and movingly of the compa.s.sion of Jesus, and his desire to save them from sin and perdition, that many were convinced of their dangerous state, and earnestly inquired what they should do to be saved? The zeal of the newly baptized had often likewise a powerful effect on the old, in rekindling the dying embers of their profession.
Several of these expressed their surprise at their former indifference, and seemed to doubt if they had ever truly given themselves to Jesus; and old and young now declared, weeping, that their only desire was to obtain peace and rest in their souls, and to be enabled to live in the undisturbed enjoyment of the Saviour. With their emotions of love were mixed deep shame and abas.e.m.e.nt, that they had not before perceived their true happiness; but by their lifeless profession, and inconsistent conduct, had crucified the Saviour afresh, and put him to open shame.
Nor were they less a.s.siduous with the heathen who visited the settlements, and their love for the truth was manifested in the gladness they expressed at every new accession to the congregation from among them, the kindness they showed, and the eagerness with which they endeavoured to retain them. Some of these new comers, at Hopedale, having expressed their desire to receive the gospel, and to submit to the rules of the place, young and old instantly ran to help them with their baggage, to arrange their little affairs, and cheerfully built new winter houses for their reception. Another party, however, refusing to stop, left a man with his wife and child, who were disinclined to go, wishing, as he said, to be converted. He had pitched his tent at some distance, but no sooner did the baptized Esquimaux learn his determination, than they immediately went, took it down, and set it up in the midst of their own dwellings, with such demonstrations of welcome, that he exclaimed, he had never met with any thing like it before; nor could he understand why they should shew such disinterested love to him, a stranger. In visiting the sick, the missionaries had much satisfaction; there was now no horror at the thought of death--no disposition to return to their sorcerers; but calm, peaceful resignation to the Divine will, or holy joy in the prospect of soon seeing their Redeemer, face to face. Magdalene, in the view of departure, said, "I weep not over the pain I feel, though that is very great, but for joy that my Saviour is near my heart. O would but Jesus come and take me to himself! I long to go to him, as a child longs for its parent, to behold him, and to embrace his feet. I feel no gloom; my heart is filled with joy in believing on him."
Benigna, upon her recovery from a dangerous illness, thus expressed herself: "I think that it pleased the Lord to afflict so many in our house with illness, and to restore them again, that he might prove us, to know whether we could place all our hopes in him, even in perplexity and pain; and I have now found that he is able, not only to bring us safe through the most distressing circ.u.mstances, but to establish us more and more in full reliance upon his help alone.
During this illness, the Lord has given me to feel his presence so sweetly, that if it had been his will, I should have rejoiced to go and be with him for ever; but since it has pleased him to restore me to health, my heart is filled with grat.i.tude towards him." Among the strangers, the power of G.o.d was no less wonderfully displayed in awakening them from the deep sleep of sin and death: they came and confessed their sins and their crimes, which, though formerly deemed light matters, now heavily burdened their consciences. "Human nature shudders and starts back," says the missionary diary, "on hearing the horrid detail of the abominations practised among the heathen;" and they themselves would often exclaim, "O! how shocking the way in which we lived in sin; but we were quite blind, and chained down by the fetters of Satan; we will serve him no longer, but belong only to Jesus."
One instance deserves more particular notice, that of a young man named Angukualak, the son of a most noted sorcerer, Uiverunna. His parents had instructed him in all the secrets of their art, and his confession gives at least plausibility to the opinion, that the influence of Satan is permitted to be sometimes visibly exercised, in the dark places of the earth, though, while the effects of that influence are palpable in the perpetration of the grossest vices and most barbarous cruelty, it is very immaterial whether it a.s.sumes a perceptible form, or merely acts upon the imagination. His own account to the missionaries, was as follows: "My parents told me, that their familiar spirit, or Torngak, lived in the water; if I wished to consult him, I must call upon him, as the spirit of my parents, to come forth out of the water, and remember this token, that I should observe, in some part of the house, a vapour ascending, soon after which, the spirit would appear, and grant what I asked. Some years ago, when my little brother was very ill, I tried this method for the first time, and called upon the Torngak, when I really thought I saw a small vapour arising, and shortly after, the appearance of a man in a watery habit stood before me. I was filled with horror, my whole frame shook with fear, and I covered my face with my hands."
His brother recovered, and the impression of this strange occurrence appears to have been forgotten, when a terrible dream overwhelmed his mind with anguish and terror. "I thought," to resume his own language, "I thought I saw a very deep, dark cavern, the descent to which was a narrow, steep chasm. In this horrible place, I discovered my mother, my relations, and many others whom I had known, and who had led a very wicked life upon earth, sitting in great torments, and exhibiting a dreadful appearance. I was already with my feet slipping down the chasm; and it seemed as if somebody said to me, "Unto that dark place thou must likewise depart!" From that moment I found no rest anywhere, but having heard that true believers lived at Hopedale, I resolved to come hither, and with my whole family to be converted to Jesus, that I may not likewise descend into the place of torment, and be lost for ever. But alas! I know not how to get released from evil, for I still feel as if I was bound with the chains of sin."
To this account, the brethren added the following pertinent remark: "We often hear the Esquimaux relate dreams; and certain it is, that several of our Esquimaux have been led to very serious reflections, by occasion of a remarkable, and, perhaps, terrifying dream, and been convinced of their lost and wretched state. We do not encourage a belief in the fulfilment of dreams, nor pay any regard to them in general; but yet we find the words of Scripture true, Job x.x.xiii.
14-17. "G.o.d speaketh once, yea, twice, but man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men; in slumberings upon the bed: then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, that he may withdraw them from their purpose.""
Towards the end of this remarkable year, the missionaries, in their diary, thus exultingly break forth: "O! that we were able, by words, to convey to our dear brethren and sisters, some faint idea of our sensations, and of the joy and grat.i.tude we feel in beholding this work of the Lord among our dear Esquimaux. Could they but see the marvellous change wrought in the minds and conduct of some of these people, who were lately such avowed enemies of the truth, led captive by Satan at his will, and delighting in the most filthy and outrageous practices, they would mingle their tears of joy with us. We now hear backsliders as well as heathen, those who have long heard, but never believed in the gospel, speaking the same language as those who have never, till now, heard of a Saviour; all confess themselves most vile and unworthy, weep over their sins, and cry for mercy through the atonement of Jesus. Thus, in Labrador also, the word of the cross is the power of G.o.d unto salvation. We regard this gracious work of the Saviour, as the blossoming of a precious plant, which has been long germinating in the earth, and on whose growth we have been waiting with the utmost anxiety;--now that it has at last sprung up, and is bearing beautiful flowers, may He cause it to prosper and bring forth fruit unto eternal life!"
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote H: The Esquimaux always receive a new name at baptism, and most of them have such an abhorrence at the recollection of their early life as heathens, that it sickens them when any one calls them by their old Esquimaux names. They regard the days past, in which they fulfilled the l.u.s.ts of the flesh, as almost literally a state of death.]
CHAPTER VI.
Mutual affection of the Christian Esquimaux and Greenlanders--their correspondence--letter from Timothy, a baptized Greenlander.--Delight of the Esquimaux in religious exercises.--Order of the congregations--distressing events, apostasy of Kapik--awful end of Jacob--peaceful death of believers--Judith, Joanna.--Revival among the communicants.--A feast by a Christian brother, to the Esquimaux.--Winter arrangements.--Childrens" meetings--schools.--The brethren"s settlements contrasted with the heathen.--Progress of religion at the different stations.--Books printed in the Esquimaux language.--Number of the settled Esquimaux.--Epidemic at Nain--its consequences.--General view of the mission.
Love to all the members of the body of Christ, is the visible token of the vitality and truth of a Christian profession; and as it rises or falls, the progress of an individual or a community waxes or wanes. At this period, the converted Esquimaux felt a lively interest, not only in their countrymen, but likewise in their fellow-Christians in Greenland; the affection was reciprocal, and though they had never seen each other in the flesh, they rejoiced over each other"s welfare, and communicated their feelings in affectionate letters. Jonathan had dictated an epistle to the baptized Greenlanders, in 1799; the annexed was from the Christian Greenlander, Timothy, an a.s.sistant at Lichtenfels, in return. "My beloved, ye who live just opposite us, on the other side of the great water!--You have the same mode of living that we have; you go out in your kaiaks as we do; you have the same method of procuring your livelihood as we have; our Saviour has given you teachers, as he has given us: be thankful to him that they make known to you his precious words, and all his deeds, which are full of life and happiness. I have, from my earliest infancy, been instructed in this blessed doctrine, for I have grown up in the congregation.
When you read this, you may very likely think that I have always lived to the joy of our Saviour; but, alas, I have been, particularly in my youth, very often ungrateful towards him who died for me. But when this was the case, I was never happy, and I found no rest for my soul, until I cast myself at the feet of Jesus, and implored his forgiveness; and even now I can do nothing else, when I am distressed about myself and my great sinfulness. When I am in my kaiak procuring provisions, or on other occasions alone, and I call to mind that my Saviour was for my sake nailed to the cross, and suffered for my sins, which are numberless, I acknowledge myself the chief of sinners; I then pray to our Saviour with deep abas.e.m.e.nt, and often with loud weeping. At such times I feel that he draws nigh, and fills my heart with such comfort that I am quite melted by his love. This is also the reason why I make our Saviour my most important object; I cleave to him as a child does to its mother, and I will never turn away from Him. Nothing is more profitable to me than the contemplation of his sufferings. Of this alone I speak to my fellow-men.
"My dear brethren and sisters, I must still tell you that I have been four times in danger of my life when running in my kaiak, for so often have I been overset when I was quite alone. When almost suffocated in the water, I prayed to our Saviour for deliverance. Each time I raised myself up by means of the bladder, but it was G.o.d my Saviour who saved me from these dangers. In him alone I trust, and provide for myself, my wife and children with pleasure. Although, as long as I am upon earth I shall feel my weakness and corruption, yet I go with it all to our Saviour, as a child does for help to its parent. I pray thus: "O!
my Jesus! thou lover of my soul, let me feel thy nearness, impress thy sufferings and death upon my heart, melt it and make it tender through the power of thy blood, and according to thy good pleasure, make me well-pleasing unto thee. Thou hast bought me with thy blood, that I might be saved; throughout my whole life will I rely upon thee, my G.o.d and Redeemer! I will place thee before my heart, as thou for my sake in agony and sore distress in the garden of Gethsemane wast weighed down to the ground with my guilt, until sweat mixed with blood, forced itself through thy body, and fell in great drops to the ground." At such times my heart grows warm, and my eyes overflow. This alone is able to soften our hard hearts--this I experience, and your hearts cannot be subdued and softened by any thing else. You must go to Jesus" cross, for there is no other way to happiness.--Take these my imperfect words to heart, which I write out of love to you, as a people related to us. Your Jonathan"s words which he caused to be written to us, we have received to our joy; we have not forgotten them. It is very pleasing to hear such accounts. O that we all, as one people, might put in practice what our Saviour has commanded in his word, love him above all things, give him joy by our conduct, and never again cause him grief. I write to encourage the heathen in your country, of whom there are still many, to be converted to the Creator.
Let them hear much of his incarnation, sufferings, and death, and relate it to them when you are with them. Remember us also, and pray for us to our Saviour. We will also pray for you, and when we do this we shall also reap those blessings which our Saviour has promised to those who pray to Him.--I am your brother, TIMOTHY."
Diligence in the improvement of the means of grace, particularly in not forsaking the a.s.sembling of themselves together, is another evidence of the reality and health of the Christian life in any community: this awakening bore that stamp also of the genuineness of its nature; and from the frequency of their meetings, which were punctually and cheerfully attended by the people, some idea may be formed of the hungering and thirsting after divine things which marked the Esquimaux congregations. The order of the different meetings of the congregation at Hopedale during winter--and in the other settlements it was pretty much the same--was as follows:--Sunday.
Public service in the fore and afternoon. In the morning the Litany was read. The children then met. After the afternoon"s service the communicants sung a liturgical hymn, or the candidates for the Lord"s supper held a meeting for instruction.--Monday Evening. All the baptized had a meeting, when a suitable discourse was delivered to them. After a short pause, a singing-meeting was held.--This is a service peculiar to the brethren"s church, in which some doctrinal subject, commonly that contained in the Scripture-text appointed for the day, is contemplated by singing verses or hymns relating to it, so as in their connection to form, as it were, a homily on the text, according to the words of the Apostle, "Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs."--Tuesday Evening: A public meeting, with a discourse.--Wednesday Morning. The children had a meeting, the one Wednesday for all the children, and the next, for the baptized only. On the evening, there was a public service, when a portion of the harmony of the four Evangelists was read and explained.--Thursday Evening: The same.--Friday. Both the baptized and the candidates for baptism met, where, after a discourse on the text, a hymn treating of the Saviour"s pa.s.sion was sung.--On Sat.u.r.day there was no service in the church. Besides these meetings, the believing Esquimaux had the worship of G.o.d regularly morning and evening in their own houses. But the crowning sheaf in this harvest of mercy, was the permanence of the awakening; the impressions were lasting, not like a momentary blaze occasioned by some temporary excitement, but a pure and steady flame, which in a majority increased in brightness, till it was lost in glory.
Lovely however, and heart-cheering as this delightful period was, it is not to be imagined that it was a period of unmingled joy; there were several instances in which strong and violent emotions were succeeded by coldness, formality, and hypocrisy, and in some cases by open apostasy, or by unequivocal marks of reprobation. The most remarkable were Kapik and Jacob; the former had been baptized by the name of Thomas, and his declarations breathed, or seemed to breathe, the very essence of a more than ordinary spirituality. "I have no other desire," said he upon one occasion to the missionaries, "but Jesus my Saviour, who has had mercy even upon me, the very worst of men; and I pray, that I may now give him joy, and cleave to him to the end. Alas! alas! that I have known him so late! Formerly I could not believe one word of what your predecessors and yourselves told us of Jesus, and of the necessity of believing on him, and becoming his property. I only laughed, and mocked, and gave pain and trouble to my teachers. But how is this? I now believe it all, and our Saviour has so powerfully drawn my heart towards himself, that I can find no words to describe what I feel." By this and similar speeches he so far imposed upon the brethren, that they believed him a humble follower of the good Shepherd, and a true child of G.o.d.
But being attacked, autumn 1806, by a malignant disorder somewhat resembling the smallpox and measles, which raged in the settlement, the severe pain he suffered from the virulence of the disorder, as the irruption in his face struck inward, and a.s.suming a cancerous form destroyed his upper jaw bone, he became impatient, forsook his professions of confidence in the Saviour, and sought for help in heathenish practices, and if he had had opportunity would have proceeded to greater lengths in these abominations, than ever before.
His behaviour in his family too, had become very oppressive, and all the kind exhortations, as well as the serious remonstrances of the missionaries, produced no effect; even after he recovered, he remained quite hardened. He some years afterwards professed sincere repentance, but his artifice had been so deep before, that the missionaries could only say, that nothing was impossible to G.o.d.
Jacob came first to the brethren at Nain. He was in the beginning apparently very earnest in seeking his soul"s salvation and was baptized in 1801. But he afterwards fell into temptation, and again took refuge in his old practices, playing at the same time the part of a most consummate hypocrite: being discovered, he was excluded; yet when his health began to decline, the missionaries waited upon him, and as they saw him drawing apparently near his end, were the more earnest in exhorting him to turn to Jesus, who alone could deliver him from the bondage of sin and Satan. For some time he seemed to attend to their advice, but his last days and final exit out of the world, gave sufficient proof that his heart was untouched. As his pains increased, his impatience increased with them. He demanded with violent cries that a knife might be given him to stab himself, which being refused, he called for a rope, and persisted with such vehemence that his wife and son, wearied out by his constant shrieking, gave him one, with which he put an end to his own existence. Lamentable as these awful examples of the deceitfulness and depravity of the human heart were, yet they operated more powerfully than many exhortations, in inculcating upon the baptized the solemn warning, "Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall."
At the same time there wanted not instances of an opposite description, to prove the reality of G.o.d"s work, and the power of divine grace, to recall and establish the deluded wanderer, and to preserve the humble believer amid the strongest temptations and the sorest trials; to enable him to maintain a consistent conduct through life, and to seal the sincerity of his faith by a peaceful, if not a triumphant death. Early in the year, Judith, a full communicant, died.
She had come to Hopedale with her husband, Tuglavina, and always conducted herself with great propriety. After his death she married Abel in 1801, and with him came to live at Hopedale, 1804. When the awakening took place she was greatly enlivened; but like many of the old baptized people, who thought themselves converted because they had some knowledge, and a fluent way of expressing themselves on religious subjects, she did not at first shew much of the Divine life in her soul; till by the powerful work of the Holy Ghost she was brought to see and acknowledge herself an unworthy sinner, and no better than those who were just then alarmed and brought from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan to the living G.o.d. Before partaking for the last time of the Lord"s supper, she was much affected. "I perceive now," said she, "that I am a great sinner, and am so ashamed that I dare hardly open my lips, for it is clear to me that I am far behind others in love to our Saviour. It appears as if he and I were yet strangers to each other, and I can do nothing but weep for him." Afterwards she became composed, and earnestly longed after communion with G.o.d. In her last illness, however, she showed much uneasiness of mind, as if something disturbed her peaceful expectation of dismissal. Brother Kohlmeister, who visited her very faithfully, encouraged her to look up to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; and on one occasion, particularly, offered up a most fervent prayer to the Lord that he would remove all her doubts by a full a.s.surance that her sins were forgiven through the merits of his precious blood, during which the poor patient and all present melted into tears, and felt that their prayer was heard and answered.
Then she unbosomed herself to her teachers, and confessed that she had hitherto concealed some deviations which burdened her conscience, and which she must make known before she departed. Having done so, she declared her firm trust that G.o.d her Saviour would wash away all her sins and remember them no more; after which she exclaimed, "Now I am ready, and will go to Jesus. He will receive me in mercy just as I am, for he has died for me." She now lay still in the joyful hope of being soon released. Both the missionaries" wives and Esquimaux sisters visited her frequently, to whom she declared the happiness of her soul; and on the night previous to her departure, conversed in a most edifying manner with those that watched with her of the near prospect she had of seeing her Saviour face to face. She requested her husband to bring her clean white dress, which she always wore at the Lord"s supper, and to dress her in it after her decease. Her two youngest children she earnestly recommended to his care, and that they might be instructed in the ways of the Lord; and sent a message as her last will, to the two eldest who live at Nain, that they should remain with the congregation, and devote their whole hearts to Jesus. When the sisters took leave of her with a kiss, she exclaimed with joy in her countenance, "I shall now go to Jesus and kiss his feet, adoring him for all his love to me, and that he has redeemed me also, a vile sinner, and called me to eternal life."
Joanna, who died in child-bed, was another example of the faithfulness and rich mercy of the Redeemer; in the autumn, a wild ignorant savage, she came to the settlement with her husband Aulak, and when asked what was her intention in coming--if she wished to be converted? answered, "That"s more than I know. I follow my husband, and as he chooses to live here, I will live here too!" But soon after she learned to know what true conversion of heart means, and would not be satisfied with any thing of a superficial nature. "She cried to the Lord for mercy, and obtained," says the diary, "real saving faith; it was surprising to observe how well she comprehended the meaning of the gospel, and in how clear a light the mystery of the cross of Christ was revealed to her soul, insomuch that she could apply to herself the sufferings of Jesus, as meritorious and allsufficient for the remission of sin, and the sanctification of soul and body. She adored the crucified Jesus in truth, as her Redeemer, and nothing was so delightful to her, as to hear of him, and all he had done and suffered, to save her from sin and destruction. She sought him with earnestness, and found rest for her soul in his sufferings and death. Her whole walk and conversation, from the time she joined the church, testified of the new birth which had taken place within her, and of a total change of heart and sentiment. Immediately after her delivery, there appeared symptoms of inward inflammation. She lay still and resigned to the will of the Lord, and seemed to take no more notice of any thing that was said; but towards morning, raising herself up in the bed, she exclaimed, "Jesus is coming, and I am ready to meet him; a very short time will bring me to him. Jesus" bleeding love is not cold toward those who are longing for him." So composed was she, that, observing the place dark, she desired them to "trim the lamps, and make the room light and pleasant," and when the company present proposed to join in a hymn, but could not immediately remember a suitable one, she herself pointed out that hymn of praise, "Unto the Lamb of G.o.d," at page 92. of the Hymn book. After it was ended, she fainted, and sunk down upon the bed; her sight and hearing failed, and she fell gently asleep in Jesus." During her short Christian career, she had become universally beloved; and the happy manner in which she left the world, made a deep impression upon the minds of the Esquimaux, "stronger," say the missionaries, "than all our words could do."
Previously to the administration of the Lord"s Supper, the missionaries usually have some conversation with the communicants, and at this time they were greatly refreshed by their simple, artless declarations. One said, "I am struck with astonishment when I reflect that Jesus can, and does receive such abominable creatures as I am.
Indeed I am one of the worst, but his love is infinite. He bled and died for me, that I might be saved. Oh! how often have I crucified him afresh by my sins, and bid defiance to his mercy. But now he has forgiven me, and granted me to hunger and thirst after him. I pray to him continually that he would not forsake me, for I can do nothing of myself as I ought. The holy communion is, every time that I enjoy it, more valuable to me, because I feel the power of my Saviour"s death, more than I can express in words." Another: "I have now only one object, and that is Jesus; may I never more part with him. Since I have had the favour to partake of his holy body and blood in the Sacrament, I continually cry to him to keep me under his direction, and to preserve me from the evil one, for I am indeed weak. He alone is my strength and refuge."
A peculiar blessing also attended the administration of the ordinance, not only to those who partook, but to those, likewise, who were permitted to be spectators. At Nain, in the month of February, when that holy feast was celebrated, three Esquimaux, Joseph, Lydia, and Kitura, were present as candidates, and Sarah with a view to confirmation; the three women were so much affected that they cried and sobbed aloud, and after the service was concluded were so overpowered that they could hardly stand, and still continued weeping.
Being brought into the mission-house, when they recovered themselves they said they were so overcome by a sense of the presence of the Lord Jesus, that they knew not where they were nor what they did. They wept on account of their unworthiness, and would now give their whole hearts to him who died for them. On the following day Sarah came, and brought all the metal rings with which she had decorated her fingers after the Esquimaux fashion, and wished to part with them, and a.s.signed as her reason, that she wished to delight herself in nothing now but Jesus. Lydia, Louisa, and others followed, and brought their pearl ornaments to dispose of, as they thought it improper for Christian women to be gaudily decked out in costly pearls; and this they did spontaneously, without being spoken to by the missionaries, who never begin with finding fault with the dress or ornaments of inquirers.