so, but because she felt it in her own heart. She was baptized, at her earnest request, and called Sarah. perfect harmony. It is an edifying picture which Crantz draws in the following passage— It would be a culpable omission to neg Of this young woman, it is said, at a subsequent lect noticing the good understanding period which subsisted between the brethren and the Danish missionary, Mr. Drachart, who came to the country in 1739. He conferred with them on the best method of Self-conceit, that subtle intruder, began to creep in among the believing Greenlanders, and too often imbittered the joy of their teachers. Even Sarah was observed to become petulant and unruly. When she was reminded of the grace be-neys. He saw no impropriety in desiring stowed upon her, and exhorted to continue faithful, her heart softened: she acknow ledged her fault, and heartily entreated our Saviour for pardon, and grace to amend. But this reformation was not the work of a moment. In the sequel, the brethren discovered that the root of the mischief was, her entertaining high thoughts of herself on account of her successful diligence among the Heathen. They pointed out to her the corruption of her heart; and bade her reflect on the deplorable situation in which the Redeemer found her and showed mercy to her, with her sensations on that occasion. She burst into tears, and said, "Ah, now I plainly feel that I have gradually depart. ed from the happiness which I then enjoyed, and our Saviour is become a stran ger to me. Now, though I pray, I find no comfort notwithstanding; and I seem unable to recover the way to Him." On this they kneeled down with her, and prayed to the compassionate Saviour to reveal Himself to her heart afresh. She was desired to pray too; but she could not utter a single word, the sobs stifling her voice. From that time, however, she had visibly a very humble opinion of her self, and was again favoured with a free access to the Friend of the sinful and miserable. 1 Mr. Drachart (the Danish missionary) had noticed the same feeling in his baptized people; and found it necessary, as well as the brethren, to proceed very cautiously in the tuition of his little flock, and to inculcate poverty of spirit as an essential part of the christian character. On this return of Matthew Stach to his labours, he found his brethren and the neighbouring Danish Missionary at Godthaab living in the most reaching the hearts of the Heathen, and often joined them in their visiting jour dates for baptism; as they also gladly actheir assistance in preparing his candicepted his services on similar occasions. He poured his grief into their bosom, whenever his labours were not immediately productive of all the fruits which he desired; though THEY saw clear proofs among his flock that the Lord was with him. Since he requested their counsel, they advised him not so much to aim at increasing his numbers, as at grounding those who were already awakened, on a firm foundation of vital knowledge; and to promote a close connection among them, that, when he could not be with them, they might encourage one another. He saw the good sense of this advice, and its utility evinced itself more clearly from year to year. The settlement was sometimes visited by hostile Greenlanders, who would lie on the watch to injure the brethren A party of this description beset it, about this time, when all the men were absent except Matthew Stach, whose courage and faithfulness on this occasion were admirable. We quote his own account of what passed My room was crowded; and the rest of the house was filled by those who could not gain admittance. Though I knew what they had threatened, I felt no alarm; and went on quietly with my translation. After sitting some time, their chief said, I told him I was glad of it. After singing "We are come to hear something good." a verse, I prayed that the Lord would open their hearts to understand what He to speak a few words on St. Paul's preachshould give me to say. I then proceeded ing at Athens: "Yet," said I, "I will not dwell on this topic, for you know already that there is a Creator." To this they all agreed, with the exception of one man. "You also know that you are wicked people." They unanimously assented. "Now, then, I come to the main point, that you and we have a Saviour-the same great Being who created all things in the beginning. He lived upward of thirty years on earth to instruct and bless mankind; after which He was nailed to a cross, and slain by his countrymen, who would not believe His words. But, on the third day, He rose again from the grave, and afterward ascended up into heaven. The time is now approaching when He will come again in the clouds of heaven, and all the dead will rise and appear before Him, as the Righteous Judge, to receive sentence, every one according to his works. But thou, poor man!" said I, turning to their chief, "how wilt thou stand aghast when all the souls whom thou hast hurried 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 publish to us the plan of salvation.' What answer wilt thou then return ?" He was silent, and cast his eyes down to the ground. Observing that tremor had seized the whole company, I proceeded" Hearken to me! I will put thee in a way to escape this tremendous judgment: but delay not, or death will seize thee; 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 souls of men, and rejects no one that cries for grace. Beseech him to have mercy on thee, poor miserable man, and wash out thy sins with His own blood." He promised, with an affected heart, that he would. They all listened with attention to the exhortations of Anna, whose brother they had murdered; and afterward walked up and down the place, in a thoughtful mood, and with folded hands; but, toward evening, they departed. After assisting in laying the foundation-stone of a church at New Hernnhut, Matthew Stach returned to Europe in 1747, taking with him five natives, at their own particular desire. So greatly had the labours of the Missionaries been prospered, that, at the close of that year, the congregation consisted of 126 baptized; and eight had departed in the Faith since 1741. Crantz gives the following view of the Mission at this period The sound of the gospel had been propagated by the missionaries of the brethren through a vast extent of country, and its glad tidings spread still farther by the savages themselves. Mockery, reproach, and persecution were not wanting. The Heathen, indeed, had framed no false system to oppose to the truth of Revelation, nor had they hired any Heathenish priests to support them in error; however, there were Angekoks, who, dreading the loss of their reputation and the profits accruing from imposture, invented a variety of means to dissuade their silly adherents from adopting the truth; but their efforts were feeble, and unable to withstand the divine power of the Word. The operation of the Spirit of God was very perceptible in the little company of the baptized; and, though distressing cirthere was great cause for joy and amazecumstances occurred, yet, on the whole, ment, at the transformation of a wild ordered family of Christians. In the pubbrutish set of people into a quiet, welllic meetings the divine efficacy of the small assemblies, also, for devotion, at gospel was powerfully manifested. At incidental conversations, and especially when baptism was administered, that promise, where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them, was abundantly verified. Besides, the improvement of the talents perceived in some of the baptized for declaring to others the fruits of their experience, together with their unexceptionable deportment, added great weight to the testimony of the missionaries. Finally, the hapPy departure of a number of Greenlanders evinced that the labours of the brethren had not been devoid of success: even some of the unbaptized had bencfitted so much by the preaching of the gospel, that, at the close of life, they could breathe their last, if not with perfect joy, yet free from the fear of death. Third Visit. In June 1749, Matthew Stach reached Greenland a third time, with three of the natives who had accompanied him to Europe, the other two having died: these were Sarah, before mention. ed, and her husband. On this subject, Crantz for even the few unprofitable ideas, which says The journey had proved a great blessing to these natives. As apprehensions were entertained that the hot weather and long deprivation of Greenland diet might prove detrimental to their health, it was thought proper that they should return home before the commencement of summer. However, numerous obstacles arose, which prevented their removal till it was too late in the season to think of it. In May the missionary travelled with them to Hernnhut. In the same month Sarah died happily; and, about five weeks after, her husband followed her. They were both interred in the burying-ground at Hernnhut. This dispensation was no small grief to the brethren, who entertained strong hopes that this couple, who had before been so useful, might now render them important service. Nor did they know how to get the other three, who enjoyed good health, back again to their country. Toward autumn the missionary travelled with them back to Holland, in hopes of finding a vessel sailing from thence to Greenland: they completed this journey on foot, without any one suspecting them to be savages. The Irene came thither from NewYork, and, as the captain expressed his willingness to take them to Greenland, they sailed with him to London, in the beginning of the year: there they were presented to George the Second, and the rest of the royal family, at Leicester House. They then proceeded in the Irene to Pennsylvania; and visited the congregations at Bethlehem and Nazareth, and the converted Indians in America, who sent some letters by them to the Greenlanders. The Greenland Congregation were much rejoiced at the return of their three companions, after an absence of nearly two years. Whoever has sufficient acquaintance with the simplicity of the Heathen, and the depraved state of Christendom in general, must look upon it as a peculiar providence, that the natives were uncorrupted by their journey and the multifarious objects which it unavoidably presented: had been insensibly impressed on their minds, were so speedily erased, that they almost immediately fell into their former course of life. Moreover, they reaped this advantage from their visit, that, to the end of their lives, they were employed as labourers among their nation, and approved themselves worthy of their trust. Of a young woman, one of the three natives who returned, Crantz says Judith, in particular, had made good use of her stay in Germany; and, having lived chiefly in the Single Sisters' House, had imbibed a strong relish for that external decorum, so highly conducive to a growth in grace. She therefore proposed to the heads of families to permit their grown-up daughters, and also those who served in the capacity of maids, to live with her during that winter in a separate house, and sleep together, after having finished their work in their respective families, that they might not, as hitherto, have things obtruded on their notice calculated to awaken hurtful reflections. Her proposal was agreed to; and she, assisted by the other single women, built the first Single Sisters' House in Greenland. Matthew Stach continued to labour in the Mis sion, with much diligence and faithfulness, till 1751; when he was called away to begin a Mis sion among the Esquimaux, on the coast of La brador. With this view, he arrived in London in the beginning of 1752; but the brethren were under the necessity of deferring, for a season, the commencement of that Mission. Fourth Visit. The following extract from Crantz will explain the occasion of Matthew Stach's fourth visit to Greenland: A numerous company of Greenlanders had now been gathered to Jesus Christ by the preaching of the Gospel-moulded into a spiritual congregation by the operation of the Holy Ghost-and furnished with such provisions for its good discipline, both within and without, that, amidst all defects, it might in truth be called a living, flourishing, fruit-bearing plant, of the Heavenly Father's planting. It was now the anxious care of those who were interested in its growth, and whose warmest anticipations looked for ward to its maturity, to watch lest the drought might wither up its verdure, or some mildew blight its fruit. A Synod, held at Barby, in Saxony, in 1750,thought it necessary to depute one of the servants of the church to visit the mission, with power to confirm its regulations, or to reform them, if needful, according to the model established in other missions; but particularly to examine whether any irregularities had crept in, which end could not be effectually answered by written communications. Bishop John de Watteville, who had just returned from a visitation in North America and the West Indies, undertook this commission, and desired for his companion the missionary, Matthew Stach, who was then at Westminster. This brother had sued in vain to the Hudson's Bay Company for leave to preach the Gospel to the American Indians belonging to their factories; and he was now eagerly waiting to see what would result from the commerce which some English merchants, members of the brethren's church, intended to set on foot with the Esquimaux of Labrador. But, as several difficulties intervened to defer this undertaking, he accepted with joy of an intermediate visit to his loved Greenland, and hastened to join his travelling companion at Barby. They arrived in Greenland about the middle of June, 1752. Crantz says After a stay of two months, equally agreeable to himself and to the objects of his visit, brother de Watteville prepared for his return; but while the vessel was detained by contrary winds, he had the pleasure to complete a revision of the Greenland Hymn Book, begun by his recommendation: it contained the Litanies and Liturgies of the church, and upward of 100 hymns. Fifth Visit. appointed to introduce Matthew Kunz into the Greenland mission. This having been the fifth visit which he paid to that country, he began to think of enjoying some rest, in fellowship with the congregations in Europe; but, whenever he heard any accounts from Greenland, his desire to be at work in the Lord's vineyard returned; and his love for the congregations of believing Greenlanders was such, that he could never think or hear of them without wishing fervently to be at work again among them. Sixth Visit. From the same memoir we extract an account of the last visit of our missionary to the scene of his early labours: About this time our late brother met with some very heavy afflictions in his family, which, had not the Lord supported him in an extraordinary manner, would have been sufficient to break him down. In one of his papers, giving an account of these circumstances, he says, that he then prayed that he might be taken out of this vale of tears, to rest from all his labour. But the Lord had reserved him for further services: "For," continues he, "on the 22d of February, 1757, I was called to go again to Greenland, and establish a new mission in Fisher's Bay. Two brethren, Jens and Peter Haven, were appointed to accompany me. We set out March 15th, and arrived June 28th in New Hernnhut. I called to mind my first arrival in this country, May 20th, twenty-five years ago; and now rejoiced to see above four hundred Greenlanders who had turned with their whole hearts unto the Lord; two hundred and upward having departed this life, rejoicing in God their Saviour." Among those who died about this period was Judith, mentioned before as having accompanied Matthew Stach to Europe in 1747. The following extract of a letter written by her, on her deathbed, to a friend in Europe, shows the powerful influence of the Gospel on her mind : "I am sensible of my insufficiency, but feel that our Saviour loves me. There Of this visit the memoir in the "Periodical Ac- fore, with all my indigence, I will adhere counts" thus speaks The year 1753 he spent chiefly in Germany; but in the spring of 1754 he was to Him. If He had not sought for me, ] should still have remained in darkness When I consider this, my eyes fill with tears. My dear Saviour! I have no other the brethren was established in the south, joy but in Thee alone. This winter I have been very weak in body, and often had spitting of blood; but I have been very happy. My body is exceedingly decayed by sickness; but I rejoice greatly in the prospect of that blessed moment when our Saviour will call me. Although I should have been willing to tarry a little longer with my sisters, yet I leave all to our Saviour. My greatest desire is to be with Him. I love Him; and shall love Him without ceasing. I now feel myself too weak to proceed; but, with my eyes overflowing with tears, I once more salute all the sisters that are with you." In July Matthew Stach and his fellow-labourers set out for Fisher's Bay, accompanied by four Greenland families, consisting in all of thirty-two persons; and pitched their tents at Akonemiok, the spot where Lichtenfels now stands. Of this new undertaking, and of Matthew Stach's last labours in Greenland, the memoir thus speaks: In beginning this mission, our late brother encountered a number of difficulties, inseparable from such undertakings. July 21st, 1761, the chapel, sent over from Europe, was erected; and he soon had the joy to baptize the first family of converts from among the heathens of this place, consisting of father, mother, son, and daughter. After the death of brother Boehnish, then first missionary at New Hernnhut, he undertook the care of that settlement for some time, and then returned to Lichtenfels. Having long had a desire of visiting the southern part of Greenland, the inhabitants of which, by trading with our people, had conceived a desire of hearing the Gospel preached in their own country, he made a voyage thither in 1765, accompa nied by some Greenland helpers. Not knowing what dangers he might be liable to in the course of this undertaking, he took a most affectionate leave of the two congregations. However, the Lord was at his right hand, and brought him safe home again; and, to complete his joy, he heard afterwards that a settlement of called Lichtenau, and that the seed which he had sown sprung up and bare fruit. Beside the many and various occupations with which he was continually engaged, he spent his few leisure hours in compiling a Greenland Grammar and Dictionary, by which the study of this difficult language is rendered more easy to beginners. In 1771 he returned to Europe, where he laid the whole state of the Greenland mission before the brethren appointed by the Synod to have the direction of the missions, in so clear and circumstantial a manner, confessing whatever he thought mis-managed through too great zeal, that all present were greatly affected, and could not but revere this venerable disciple of Jesus. His Death in North America. Having intimated his wish to close his days in one of the brethren's settlements in North America, the aged missionary arrived there in August, 1772. Of his last days the memoir gives the following account : Being unaccustomed and unwilling to spend his time in a state of inactivity, he offered his services to keep a school for boys; and, being used to much exercise, chose to undertake hard labour in gardening, &c. to preserve his health, as much as his advanced age would permit. The prosperity of Christ's kingdom, and the propagation of the Gospel, were the subject of his daily and most fervent prayers. Nothing gave him more joy than to hear accounts of the different missions; and the whole congregation at Salem, where he then resided, joined in celebrating the jubilee of the Greenland mission in 1783. His mental faculties, which had been remarkably strong began about this time to fail; and he was so hurt by a fall that he had in 1785, that from that time he was mostly confined to his bed. His pains and confinement he bore with exemplary patience; and the loss of his memory proved a mercy, in as far as he could never be persuaded otherwise than that the above accident had happened but the other day. He spent his time in com |