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OTHER VISITS TO GREENLAND.

We have entered at large into the particulars of our Missionary's First Visit to Greenland, as it gave an opportunity of stating the chief circumstances connected with the foundation of the Brethren's Mission in that country, and which afford important lessons to other Missionaries. We shall be brief in the narration of his subsequent visits.

Second Visit.

Matthew Stach arrived in Greenland, the second time, on the 17th of July, 1742. Crantz says

During the two years of his absence, only one Greenlander, a woman, had been baptized; but there were many who listened to the Word with joy, from whom a plentiful harvest might soon be expected.

Some circumstances are stated re

specting this Woman which we shall extract, as they may furnish useful hints in other Missions. The account of her conversion is thus given by the Brethren:

In a Greenland house, where all beside were hostile to us, there was a Young Woman who was very much affected. While we were speaking, she held her hands before her face to hide her tears, and softly sobbed forth-" O God! thou knowest that I am exceedingly corrupted from our first parents: have mercy upon me!" When we afterward asked her why she knelt, she answered, "Because I now begin to believe: I pray daily to God to be gracious to me.' Being directed to persevere in prayer, she August, 1823.

began to weep, and to exclaim-" O Jesus! my heart is thoroughly depraved: make me truly sorry for it: take away the bad thoughts, and form me according to thy pleasure. And as I yet know little of thy Word, give me thy Holy Spirit to instruct me." Her companions, very naturally hating the person whose example was a constant reproof to them, treated her with a severity quite foreign to the national character; so much so, that she was glad to take the first opportunity of seeking an asylum with the Brethren.

She was never weary of listening to the Doctrine of the Cross, and began to speak of it to others. No sooner did

any Heathens come to the place, than she paid them a visit, explained to them the reason of her living here, told them of all the blessings which she had enjoyed, and of the still greater happiness which she had in view; and

her admonitions were not without their effect. Having been prepared for baptism, and made acquainted with the nature and design of that holy ordinance, she declared that she now no longer believed that Jesus was the friend of sinners because we had told her so, but because she felt it in her own heart. She was baptized, at her earnest request, and called Sarah.

Of this Young Woman, it is said, at a subsequent period

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 bestowed upon her and exhorted to continue faithful, her heart softened: she acknowledged her fault, and heartily entreated our

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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 shewed mercy to her, with her sensations on that occasion. She burst into tears, and said—" Ah, now I plainly feel that I have gradually departed from the happiness which I then enjoyed, and our Saviour is become a stranger 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 herself, and was again favoured with a free access to the Friend of the sinful and miserable. 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 perfect harmony. It is an edifying picture which Crantz draws in the following passage:

It would be a culpable omission, to neglect noticing the good understanding 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 reaching the hearts of the Heathen, and often joined them in their visiting journeys. He saw no impropriety in desiring their assistance, in preparing his candidates for baptism; as they also gladly accepted his services on similar occasions. He poured his grief into their bosom,

whenever his labours were not imme diately 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. 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, "We are come to hear something good." I told him I was glad of it. After singing a verse, I prayed that the Lord would open their hearts, to understand what He should give me to say. I then proceeded to speak a few words on St. Paul's preaching at dwell on this topic, for you know Athens: "Yet," said I, I will not 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 judg. ment: 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 8 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 circumstances occurred, yet, on the whole, there was great cause for joy and amazement, at the transformation of a wild brutish set of people, into a quiet, well-ordered family of Christians. In the public meetings, the divine efficacy of the Gospel was powerfully manifested. At small assemblies, also, for devotion, at incidental conversations, and especially when baptism was administered, that promise, where two or three are gathered to. gether 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 la

bours of the Brethren had not been devoid of success: even some of the unbaptized had benefitted 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 mentioned, and hre husband. On this subject, Crantz says

The journey had proved a great blessing to these Natives. As apprehensions were entertained that the hot weather and long deprivation of

those who were interested in its growth, and whose warmest anticipations looked forward 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 In

dies, 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, Br. 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.

he was appointed to introduce Mat thew 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 extraordi-, nary manner, would have been sufficient to break him down. In one of his papers, giving an account of these circumstances, he says, that be 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 death-bed, to a friend in Europe, shews the powerful influence of the Gospel on her mind :

I am sensible of my insufficiency, but feel that our Saviour loves me.