rising hopes of the Brethren were dashed to the ground. But they were soon comforted by the visit of several families, who came on the invitation of the fugitives to hear, as they said, wonderful things about God. After sometime, one family came back, and towards winter most of those whom they had sheltered the year before returned to their old quarters, so that they had with them nine families. The Brethren gradually altered their mode of instruction, and instead of insisting on the existence of God, the original and present state of man, a future resurrection, and other first principles in theology, they exhibited principally the incarnation, sufferings, and death of Christ. However absurd this may appear in theory, experience has proved, that Jesus Christ and him crucified, may be preached more effectually to Pagans, even in the first stages of instruction, than any of the fundamental truths which are argued from the light of nature. Perhaps this is not so strange, if we properly consider the nature of the hu man mind; that truths often revolved, though they may be presented in new attitudes, and traced to new consequences, yet cannot have the effect of truths not only altogether new, but without any parallel. Tell a heathen there is a God; he probably believed it before. Tell him, he is a sinner; he confesses, and charges the same on you. Go through with all the doctrines, of which he has already the least idea, however imperfect, and you awaken no special interest. But exhibit the mystery of godliness, "God manifest in the flesh," and you fill him with astonishment. Shew him a bleeding Saviour, and you melt him to repentance.*

*Note. The experience of Brainerd, and indeed of almost every successful missionary is in point here. When Brainerd tried to convince his hearers by arguments, he effected nothing; but when be ventured to preach Christ simply, and especially when as he says "he strongly dwelt on that moving scene of a Saviour dying on the cross-there appeared immediately a great stirring and awakening." The Greenlanders used to ask the Brethren why they did not preach sooner to them of Jesus, that they had been quite tired of hearing the discourses about God, and the two first parents.

This was the effect in the case of the Greenlanders. The preaching of the cross illumined their darkened understandings, softened their hard hearts, and kindled in their icy breasts the flame of spiritual life.

About the time of the first visitation from the congregation at home, 1740, a pretty general concern became manifest among the Greenlanders. It was a pleasant coincidence, that, while the visitor* remained, and while too, they were celebrating the nuptials of Frederick Boehnish and Anna Stach, just as they were at dinner, Kajarnak, whom they had almost given up as lost, stepped in among them.

They found he had not only returned safe in his spiritual concerns, but had been enabled, in the midst of ridicule and opposition, to recommend religion where he had been. He soon, indeed, became a very useful assistant to the Brethren; as did Sarah, a new convert. By the help of these two, the serious impressions, which began to be made, were much deepened. The Greenlanders were surprised with the account of their conversion, and more so to hear them pray. They were likewise useful to the missionaries in their translations; for, in expressing their own feelings, they used words which could not have been learnt from any other source; but Kajarnak was soon called to his rest. His death was happy, though he was in great pain. When those around talked to him about his temporal concerns, he desired them "not to encumber his heart with such affairs, for he had his Saviour constantly in mind." Once, when they began to weep, he said to them ;"Don't be grieved about me. Have you not often heard that believers, when they die, go to our Saviour, and partake of eternal joy? You know that I am the first of you, who was converted to the Saviour; and now it is his will that I should be the first, who should go to him."

1

For three years, commencing with 1743, the pros

The visitor is appointed by the Elders' Conference of the Unity, to visit and regulate the various missions of the Brethren when it may be requisite.

pects of the missionaries were bright.* The preaching of the gospel had such an effect, that it seemed a universal awakening would ensue. Many that were impressed were indeed held back from joining them by fear of persecution, and because they could not yet give up their hunting and fishing, and especially their dances and other diversions. But, in this period, there were between forty and fifty baptized, some of whom gave very striking evidence of the power of divine grace. From this time, indeed, the whole Greenland nation displayed a new and improved temper towards foreigners, whom at first they had utterly hated and despised. Many, who formerly derided and abused the Brethren, now came and begged their pardon; and eveu those, who were once the most untractable, stood along the shores as they passed, entreating them to land, and tell them the words of God.t

course.

As the congregation were always scattered more or less in the summer; it being necessary for them to secure provisions, the missionaries took great pains to guard them against the temptations of heathen interTheir account for one year says; "We sent for all the baptized brethren and sisters, when they were making ready for their departure, and spoke with them separately. We were like Jacob, when he dismissed Benjamin. We entreated them with tears not to lose Jesus, who was crucified, from their sight; and to watch over their hearts, while surrounded with the temptations of the heathen. They promised us, they would, with tears in their eyes, and thanked the Lamb for the grace they had enjoyed this winter. We bless

ed them, and kissed them, and went with them down to the strand; there we once more spoke a few words from Acts xx. 32. Then they set off, and we in the mean time sung a hymn."‡

* About this time Matthew Stach returned from Europe, whither he went two years before; and Daniel Shneider was lost on his passage home. The Brethren frequently change their places, and

rarely any one spends his life abroad.

+ Crantz' Hist. Vol. II. p. 38.

Crantz' Hist. Greenland, Vol. II. p. 50.

In these dispersions, the christian Greenlanders often did much good. They frequently found, in places the brethren had never visited, some, who had heard of the Gospel, and wished to be instructed. An instance is mentioned of several, who persuaded one of the baptized to sit up all night, and talk to them about Christ; and, when the next night he stole away into a hut to get some rest, they followed him, and obliged him to rise, and further gratify their desires.

During the awakening, and especially after it began to subside, the Anjekoks, whose craft was in danger, exerted themselves in various ways to deter their countrymen from joining the congregation. One of them said, it was evident that the Gospel was a mere fiction, invented by foreigners, since some of the believers had died, though their teachers said, 'He that believeth on the Son of God, shall never die.' Another attempted to excite a persecution against the missionaries, by pretending that the new doctrine frighted away the sea-fowl, after he, by his art, had released them from the subterranean regions. A third warned the people not to listen to the believers, for he had performed a journey to heaven in order to ascertain how it went with the souls of the Greenlanders; and he found all the baptized in a most deplorable condition, without food and raiment, while those who had not received the Gospel, were blessed with affluence and plenty. A frightful report was also brought of a Christian Greenlander, who had died at the northern colony, and appeared again perfectly naked, saying he had been thrust into a dark dismal hole, where he endured the most exquisite misery. These absurd stories had some effect. The common Greenlanders were made to believe that the Europeans, though they appeared so friendly, were taking these measures to punish them after death, because their forefathers had murdered the ancient colony.

The congregation however continued to increase; and though the brethren were obliged to watch over their spiritual children with the utmost solicitude, and

were occasionally grieved by the defection of individuals, yet, in general, they had much cause to rejoice. It is remarked;-"Great grace is among the little company of the baptized. Many painful circumstances indeed still occur. Nor can it be otherwise expected so long as we are here below in an imperfect congregation, which, on this side the grave, is a hospital, not indeed of dead people, but of sick, who are recovering ; whence our duty is to strengthen the things, that remain, and are ready to die."

CHAPTER II.

Church built and the settlement called New HerrnhutManner of observing Christmas-Sufferings of the Brethren--of the Greenlanders-Excessive coldGreenlanders perish-Desolating sickness-Christian benevolence-New settlement formed-State of New Herrnhut-Death of a missionary-Third settlement -Effect of the Brethren's labours-Shipwreck of Rudolph-Present state of the mission.

THE success of the Greenland mission caused great joy in all the Brethren's congregations in Europe; and in consequence of its being stated, that the missionaries were in want of a church, one was immediately prepared, and sent out in a ship freighted for the purpose. Among those, who went out to erect and finish it, was the venerable Christian David, who had erected the first hut for the missionaries, and the first schoolhouse for the Greenlanders; and, when he left them,* he scarcely expected, that the former would ever be found too small, or the latter inhabited. But now he was to carry them a church. He hastened, that he might have the happiness of beholding the consummation of so good a work. The ship arrived safely in June

* He returned to Europe the third year of the mission..